Football ‘Swear to the flag this Thursday’: Paulo Diaz obtains Argentine citizenship to help River Plate

Paulo Díaz is finishing an important procedure. The second in a few days. About a week ago, the defender announced that he would continue at River Plate. This decision required a significant financial effort: faced with a specific proposal to leave for Saudi Arabia, the Millionarios made him the highest paid player in the transandean league. The defender has more than deserved his recognition: he has been an unwavering piece in defense for some time.

Today, the Palestinian-trained defender signs another important document: completes the process of acquiring Argentine nationality. Moreover, he swears before his new flag . Or the second, since it exists between Chile and the trans-Andean country. An agreement is in force that allows dual nationality .

Díaz has lived in Argentina for a long time, with an interruption to emigrate to Saudi Arabia. Before putting on the River Plate jersey, he also stood out at San Lorenzo de Almagro . In fact, it was his time at Boedo that put him in the sights of one of the most popular clubs in the country.

“Argentina opened its doors to him. He loves River. My grandson, Agustín, too. The family is all from River. It’s been five years now. He still has three and a half years left on his contract. Besides, there shouldn’t be any question of nationalization or not. I don’t see the problem. He’s going to continue playing for Chile. That’s more than clear. ” says his father, Italo.

“There is nothing to question. The Argentine fan puts him up there and he has always had his feet on the ground. He must be one of the foreigners with the most matches in River’s history. . And now he is nationalized to open a place at the club,” adds the former national team.

In concrete terms, naturalization does not involve any significant changes for the defender: will be able to continue defending Chile and would not have been able to act for Argentina, given that he had already dressed in red as an adult .

For River Plate, on the other hand, the benefit could be significant.: frees up a place for a foreign player . In Argentina, for example, it is claimed that the club met Spaniard Iker Muniain to offer you the chance to make your dream of wearing the Blood Band shirt come true.

The club could also use all the foreigners in its staff. Besides the Chileans, the Uruguayans also appear Agustín Sant’Anna, Sebastián Boselli and Nicolás Fonseca the Colombian Miguel Borja and Paraguayan Adam Bareiro.