Following his move to River Plate, Otamendi's current-season form is level with last season (Season 58→58), while his Rating eased 19→5. His peak season for form remains 2022/23 (Season 83).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	River Plate · 8th	7	0	0	7.19	5	58
2025/26	Benfica · 3rd	30	2	0	7.4	19	58
2024/25	Benfica · 2nd	33	6	2	7.45	26	66
2023/24	Benfica · 2nd	31	2	1	7.26	25	68
2022/23	Benfica · 1st	29	1	0	7.31	24	83

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 14 earlier seasons in the full career.

Argentina · international

Side	Apps	G
Argentina	140	7
Argentina U23	12	1

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

N. Otamendi is a 38-year-old central defender at Benfica, enjoying a standout season — 2 goals and 0 assists in 30 appearances, a Season grade of 58. On long-term scout potential he's rated 18.5. A seasoned veteran, he has been an ever-present (85.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.73 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Otamendi.

On the season, Otamendi graded 58 for current form (age-blind), on 12 clean sheets and 3.731 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 58 → 58). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2022/23.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 19. At 38 Otamendi is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.9 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2022/23 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2022/23Trending downBreakout: 2022/23

18.5

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

57.7

Seasoni

a solid contributor and squad regular

85.1%

Minutes

near ever-present

3.73

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Benfica finished 3rd of 18 · an upper-table side

Apps

3.73

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.73 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 12 clean sheets across 30 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (3rd of 18) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 85.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 3.73 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Age curve. At 38, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 18.5 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.73 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.5× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %85.1%

Available fixtures34 of 34

Goals / 900.069

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.069

Defensive actions / 903.731

Player flow

Goal involvements2

Cards / 900.276

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~8), then tapers with age. At 38, Otamendi sits on 2.9, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Otamendi's projected Rating — 18.5 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles44

Interceptions45

Blocks19

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards7

Red cards1

Transfer history

€82.8M total transfer fees · 7 moves

River PlateJun 2026 – nowFree

BenficaSept 2020 – Jun 2026€ 14.8M

Manchester CityAug 2015 – Sept 2020€ 48M

Valencia(back from loan)Jul 2014 – Aug 2015

Atletico-MG(on loan)Feb 2014 – Jul 2014

ValenciaJan 2014 – Feb 2014€ 12M

FC PortoAug 2010 – Jan 2014€ 8M

Velez Sarsfielduntil Aug 2010

About N. Otamendi

Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi is a 38-year-old centre-back who plays for River Plate, born on February 12, 1988 in Buenos Aires, standing 183 cm tall. He is from Argentina. River Plate currently sit 8th of 15 in the Liga Profesional Argentina.

This season

In the current season, N. Otamendi has made 7 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 636 minutes, averaging a 7.19 match rating over his last 7 rated games, with 1 yellow card.

When N. Otamendi plays, River Plate's record this season is 2W-1D-4L — and his match ratings average 6.98 at home against 7.47 on the road.

Recent matches

August 30, 2026: 3-2 win away at Banfield (90 minutes, 7 rating)
August 23, 2026: 2-2 draw at home vs Velez Sarsfield (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
August 16, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Argentinos JRS (90 minutes, 7.5 rating)
August 8, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Tigre (90 minutes, 8.2 rating)
August 2, 2026: 0-1 loss at home vs Rosario Central (90 minutes, 6.2 rating)
July 29, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Gimnasia L.P. (96 minutes, 7.2 rating)
July 25, 2026: 0-1 loss at home vs Barracas Central (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)

N. Otamendi's next match is on September 6, 2026, when River Plate face Independ. Rivadavia at home in the Liga Profesional Argentina.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates N. Otamendi at 18.5 with a Season form score of 57.7. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 41 career titles — among them the Super Cup and the Taça da Liga. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 19 recorded seasons, N. Otamendi has totalled 485 club appearances with 34 goals and 5 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2014/15, with 35 appearances for Valencia.

N. Otamendi's career has also included time at Benfica, Manchester City, Valencia, Atletico-MG, FC Porto and Velez Sarsfield.

On the international stage, N. Otamendi has represented Argentina and Argentina U23 — 152 caps and 8 goals in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Benfica finished 3rd of 18 · an upper-table side

Strengths

Watch points