In Argentina, he is considered the successor to Damián Martínez: his contract expires on December 31, 2027, but CA River Plate (Arg) is trying to keep him with a $100 million release clause.
Corriere dello Sport points out that in the offices of CA River Plate (Arg), the most discussed topic is that Santiago Beltrán's future could become a tug-of-war. His contract expires on December 31, 2027, and his agent Gonzalo Goñi, head of Universal 22 Agency, has not reached an agreement on a renewal with chairman Stefano Di Giacomo Calò, an entrepreneur in the digital and technology industry.
CA River Plate (Arg)'s goal is to keep this goalkeeper until 2030 and increase his release clause to $100 million. Santiago Beltrán, 22, has already been included in the Argentina national team squad coached by Scaloni and is considered a potential successor to Damián Martínez. He has earned applause for his performances in the league and the Copa Sudamericana, captivating fans at the Estadio Monumental with his saves.
Before establishing himself at CA River Plate (Arg) and attracting the attention of Juventus and Fiorentina, he played for Puerredón Country Club, a small amateur team. At that time, his coach was Sergio Fernández, and he played as a left-footed forward, excelling at dribbling and powerful shots. Around the age of 12, he switched to goalkeeper when it was decided to let him try goalkeeping.
Sergio Fernández recounted Santiago Beltrán's experience in an interview with Olé, saying that Santiago Beltrán quickly adapted to his new position and asked not to return to playing as a winger later. His connection with Puerredón Country Club, his birthplace, remains unbroken: his brother Francisco still plays for Puerredón Country Club as a winger. Santiago Beltrán remains in touch with the environment in which he grew up.
The turning point came in 2022, facilitated by 58-year-old Alberto "Tato" Montes. This goalkeeping coach, closely associated with CA River Plate (Arg), suggested that Santiago Beltrán try out at CA River Plate (Arg)'s training center on Cantilo Avenue in Núñez. Santiago Beltrán was 17 then and still in school. He comes from a very close-knit family: the advice of his parents Soledad and Matías, his brother Francisco, his sister Josefina, and his grandparents were all important. The tryout changed Santiago Beltrán's prospects, and he was quickly selected for CA River Plate (Arg)'s fifth team. His promotion to the reserve team brought him closer to the Estadio Monumental: he made 39 appearances, conceded 28 goals, and kept 21 clean sheets. During the same period, he saved 3 out of 4 penalties.
January 24, 2026, was his official debut day for Barracas Central: the player from Palermo, who also holds an Italian passport, made his first-team debut in CA River Plate (Arg)'s 1-0 victory over Barracas Central. This opportunity came somewhat unexpectedly because the goalkeepers ahead of him, Franco Armani and Ezequiel Centurión, were both injured. The number 41 jersey became one of the symbols of his rise. Standing 1.91 meters tall, he is elegant and instinctive, with excellent timing, positioning, and ability to participate in build-up play.
In Argentina, he is compared to Damián Martínez. Marcelo Barovero, Franco Armani, and Neuer are also his idols. On June 6, 2026, he made his debut for the Argentina national team in a 2-0 friendly victory over Honduras. This summer, Juventus had inquired about Santiago Beltrán before turning to Guglielmo Vicario. But in recent weeks, Fiorentina has taken action: they have spoken with agent Gonzalo Goñi and are considering the vacancy left by De Gea. CA River Plate (Arg) does not want to let him go in January, which is the stance of sporting directors Enzo Francescoli and Pablo Longoria, as reported by TyC Sports. This is also a commitment to head coach Leonardo Ponzio. At the end of August, he and assistant Marcelo Escudero took over from Eduardo Coudet.