Nicolas Otamendi has returned to Argentina after signing an 18 month contract with River Plate, joining on a free transfer following the end of his six season stint at Benfica.
The World Cup winner, who lifted the trophy with Argentina in 2022, officially put pen to paper on Friday in the presence of club president Stefano Di Carlo. His contract runs from 1 July 2026 through to the end of December 2027.
Otamendi left Benfica having made 281 appearances for the Lisbon club, scoring 18 goals and contributing eight assists along the way. During his time there he won a league title, a League Cup and two Super Cups.
His final match for the club was a 3-1 victory over Estoril. Before Benfica, the centre back also had a spell at Portuguese rivals FC Porto, where he collected seven trophies including three league championships.
Now back in Argentina, Otamendi is expected to go straight into preparations for the 2026 World Cup, where he is set to play a key role in the Argentina defence as the reigning champions look to defend their title.
