«We are working on it, and I hope this year is very good for us», with the aim of fighting on all fronts during 2026.
Since his arrival at the club in August 2024, Montiel has consolidated himself as a key piece in the attack: he has accumulated 52 matches with the Red jersey, 12 goals, and 8 assists. In 2025, he scored in all competitions and was the protagonist of one of the most memorable moments of the year, when he scored a bicycle kick against Independiente Rivadavia, which earned him the Puskás Award.
Buenos Aires, January 13 (NA)— Independiente started the year 2026 with a smile after defeating Alianza Lima 2-1. One of the standout voices was that of Santiago Montiel, who scored the winning goal and took the opportunity to clear up any doubts about his immediate future at the club, according to the Argentine News Agency.
In a transfer market where his name reappeared as a possible departure, Montiel was firm in his stance: "First, I wasn't thinking about leaving, I really wanted to stay here at Independiente. After that, it makes me very happy that (Gustavo) Quinteros gives me that trust. I will return that trust on the field of play," highlighting the coach's support.
The attacker also made it clear that the squad is focused on changing the image the team left in the last season: "We knew that from the start we had to reverse what happened in the last championship, that we needed to change our mindset."
