River has its first reinforcement: Felipe Peña Biafore will be picked up :: Olé

In Núñez they already have their first reinforcement: this Wednesday, Felipe Pena Biafore was notified – like the Lanús leadership – that River will make use of the play-off clause to recover it from the break for the Copa América. In this way, the match that Ricardo Zielinski’s team will play on Thursday the 13th against Racing will be the last for the 23-year-old midfielder in maroon clothing before making himself available to Martin Demichelis.

Despite the fact that at the beginning of the year in the plans of the CT and the CD there was no possibility of executing the section that allows River to have Peña Biafore, the context led us to rethink that decision. Or, in any case, to advance it, since Demichelis He had anticipated that only “after the game against Riestra are we going to decide which players will return”: Enzo Francescoli He contacted both the footballer and Luis Chebel to inform them of the decision.

The four goals in 24 games and the level that Peña showed in high-end crosses In his loans – an example: he was a figure in Arsenal’s historic victory against River, the first of the Demichelis cycle in Núñez – they transformed him into an appealing alternative given the situation.

Although River has three central midfielders (Rodrigo Villagra, Nicolás Fonseca and Matías Kranevitter), neither the summer reinforcements have managed to establish themselves so far nor the Colo the expected continuity in the semester. For example, on Sunday against Tigre #5 suffered a tear that will once again sideline him from the fields just when he had managed to string together two consecutive starts.

In this way, Figueroa Alcorta 7.5 not only expedited the return of a footballer who was requested by the fans for his performance and identification with the club: They also foresee that they will be able to obtain a greater economic return to the player even if he does not manage to establish himself between now and December in relation to what he would have received if Lanús executed a purchase option for 50% of Felipe’s token. A canon of US$1,250,000 that they could only execute from the South on September 1 and that it had been significantly low in relation to the youth player’s compensation.

On May 19, 2021, it was recorded in two books: the one about the history of River and the one about the life of the Peña Biafore. From dad and mom. Of the two sisters and four brothers that make up the family. And above all, from Felipe: that night he made his debut after going to the bench against Boca.

“I tried to take the situation very naturally,” says the central midfielder with a past as a hook and as a first centre-back, whose references are Enzo Pérez, Busquets and Jorginho, but also Martínez Quarta, Pinola, Maidana and Pezzella, although at At the same time he observes Van Dijk, De Light and Alaba. A multifunctional scholar. “Everything happened very suddenly. Things happened like this because the coronavirus affected many of the kids on campus,” Felipe tells Olewithout forgetting the context.

Felipe came to River from Pehuajó at the age of 12 through Pedro González, the club’s former forward. His trip had a peculiarity: in the 275 kilometers that he traveled by car he changed positions. “He played as a hooker for Estudiantes Unidos, and alternated at 5. He scored a lot of goals and I liked dribbling,” he remembers. “But when I came to try out for River, in the third rehearsal they put me at center back. And I stayed in that position, heh…”

Advised by Enzo Pérez, supported by a Gallardo who gave him the confidence to be a starter in several matches of the Professional League won in 2021 and of high level in his presentations, Peña Biafore’s takeoff in River was interrupted by a ligament injury suffered at lack of a handful of dates from the end of the championship. Already recovered, without a place with Demichelis, he was loaned to Arsenal and Lanús. His return, requested, was confirmed: he is now back.