Racing suffered a major setback Friday morning with news of a significant injury to forward Valentín Carboni. The young player, on loan from Inter Milan, sustained a ligament rupture in his right knee during training, an injury that will sideline him for at least eight months.
The injury casts a shadow over Carboni’s hopes of earning a spot on the Argentina national team for the upcoming World Cup. He had recently joined the Argentine league seeking consistent playing time after recovering from a similar injury.
This represents the same injury Carboni suffered in October 2024 while training with the Argentina national team. He had been called up by Scaloni for World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Bolivia, but was ultimately unable to participate after sustaining the injury during a practice session. At the time, Inter had loaned him to Olympique de Marseille, where his strong performances had earned him a look from the national team coach.
After his recovery, Inter loaned him to Genoa, where he featured in several matches in the second half of 2025. But, the arrival of latest manager Daniele De Rossi led to reduced playing time.
Racing secured the loan through connections between club president Diego Milito and Inter vice president Javier Zanetti. The year-long loan agreement, without a purchase option, included a clause that would have awarded Racing $200,000 for every four consecutive matches Carboni played.
Nicknamed “El Bebote” by his new teammates during preseason training in Ciudad del Este, Carboni started brightly, earning a place in the starting lineup for the Apertura opener against Gimnasia. However, his early enthusiasm didn’t translate into positive results for the team.
Carboni started in defeats against Gimnasia, Central, and Tigre, each time being substituted by Costas 15 minutes into the second half. “He needs to adapt,” the coach said of Carboni, before benching him in the fourth match. The situation continued in subsequent games.
The young forward didn’t regain his starting position, and when he did appear as a substitute, he lacked the confidence to take on defenders. The team’s overall struggles to build cohesive plays further complicated matters for Carboni, who didn’t feature in draws against Boca and Independiente Rivadavia.
During Friday’s training session, following the draw with Independiente Rivadavia, Carboni went down after a teammate fell on him, immediately raising concerns. Medical tests on the field were followed by a scan that confirmed the worst: a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The son of former player Kely Carboni, who spent much of his career with Lanús, Valentín developed his footballing skills in Italy, where his father went to work. Alongside his brother, Franco, Valentín was signed by Inter’s youth academy. While he received a call-up to the Italy Under-17 team, the Argentine Football Association closely monitored his progress and successfully persuaded him to represent Argentina at the youth level.
As a result of the injury, Racing now has an open roster spot and 10 days to submit the necessary documentation to the AFA. The club already had another available slot following the departure of Juan Ignacio Nardoni to Gremio de Porto Alegre. Ahead of Tuesday’s away match against Atlético Tucumán, Costas will likewise be without Adrián Martínez, who suffered a sprained left ankle.
