By Matheus Trunk
A right-handed midfielder who acts with determination and speed. His performance saw him called up to the Argentina national team. One of his trademarks is his tackling and strength in the air. Considered one of the main revelations of Argentine football, Aníbal Moreno, 26 years oldeverything had to go well Palm trees. But the irregularity made the coach Abel Ferreira defend the athlete’s transfer. One of the main clubs in Argentina, River Plate will pay US$7 million (R$38.7 million) to count on the player definitively. It is the same amount paid by Palmeiras two years ago. The new contract is valid until 2029. River is led by Marcelo Gallardo.
At the beginning of negotiations, Palmeiras asked for US$12 millionbut later lowered the requirement for US$10 million. The values went down because Palmeiras no longer wanted the player. The São Paulo club also always made it clear that it did not want to lend the steering wheel. THE River Plate puts together a strong team to once again be a protagonist in South American football. Aníbal no longer had the fans’ trust.
The midfielder made some grotesque mistakes that made the coach and the fans lose confidence in his football. The first was in a decisive game against rival Corinthians, in a match valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil. The Palmeiras player headbutted José Martinez in the 14th minute of the first half. He ended up being sent off and hurt the team, which lost 2-0 in the Allianz Parque. Palmeiras was eliminated from the competition and the Argentine athlete was blamed for the unsuccessful campaign.
Lost Abel’s trust
The midfielder made another mistake, this time as a beginner, in a wrong ball in the game between Palmeiras and Flamengo for the 29th round of the Brasileirão this year. The move ended up favoring Rubro-Negro’s third goal, which won the match 3-2.
Another tense moment was when Palmeiras faced the inconsistent Grêmio, in a duel valid for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. Aníbal Moreno scored a childish penalty on Carlos Vinícius which led to the rival’s second goal. Grêmio won 3-2, helping Flamengo to shoot at the top of the table. For Palmeiras, there was a bitter runner-up finish. The number 5 from Alviverde was labeled the “villain” of the season.
Revelation that did not come to fruition
Revealed by Newell’s Old Boys, Aníbal Moreno transferred to Racing in 2021. He made more than 100 appearances for ‘La Academia’ until arousing the interest of Palmeiras. The idea was for him to replace Zé Rafael. Moreno had a good season in 2024, performing efficiently in winning the Campeonato Paulista. The Argentine even scored the title-winning goal against Santos. But his football declined and he had to face the bench. Abel often preferred to improvise defender Bruno Fuchs as a midfielder rather than using the Argentine. In total, Aníbal played 117 games and four goals.
Gallardo restructuring
The coach’s River Plate Marcelo Gallardoattempts a reformulation to once again become one of the most feared teams on the continent. In addition to Aníbal Moreno, the Argentine club has already brought midfielder Fausto Vera, who was at Atlético Mineiro. The intention is to repatriate some Argentines who are in Europe, such as striker Lucas Beltrán, from Valencia, in Spain, and striker Gianluca Prestianni, from Benfica, in Portugal. The Argentine newspaper ‘Olé’ estimates that the River Plate board plans to invest US$20 million (R$107 million) in signings for 2026.
