Tomás Palacios has found the regular football that had eluded him in Italy, and his rise at Estudiantes has now carried him into Argentina’s senior international picture. For a defender who was on Monza’s bench only months ago, the return home in 2026 has turned a stalled spell into a significant new chapter.
Estudiantes have made the 2003-born centre-back a permanent starter, while supporters have embraced the 196cm defender for both his authority against forwards and his willingness to bring the ball out from the back. Known in La Plata as “El Gigante” and “Animal”, Palacios has added momentum to a side competing in the demanding physical setting of the Copa Libertadores.
A defender who still thinks like a midfielder
Palacios’ relationship with the ball began in a different area of the pitch. As a child he played as a forward and wore the number 10, before gradually moving backwards into defence without losing the instinct to play forward.
In a radio interview in 2020, when he was 16, Palacios said he preferred to build from the back rather than simply clear danger, looking for a midfielder or a full-back in possession. Asked about his ambition, his answer was straightforward: he wanted to play football.
That approach remains visible at Estudiantes. Alongside a strong 64% success rate in aerial duels, Palacios regularly attempts longer vertical passes towards the attacking line. His height makes him a formidable presence in both penalty areas, but his game is not confined to physical confrontation.
The Estudiantes reset after Italy
Palacios developed at Talleres before Inter signed him in 2024. His period with the Nerazzurri gave him the chance to observe the defenders around him, but a loan spell at Monza did not deliver the role he had hoped for.
The move to Estudiantes has changed that trajectory. The Pincha placed their trust in him from the start and Palacios has not surrendered his place in the side. At 196cm, he is the tallest outfield player in Argentine football, an asset in a competition and domestic calendar where aerial contests remain decisive.
His longer-term connection with Inter is still unresolved. The agreement with Estudiantes is a loan containing an option to buy, with no buy-back clause for Inter. The loan ends in January 2027, leaving Palacios roughly three months to strengthen the impression he has made since becoming a first-choice player in Argentina.
Recognition from the national team
His rapid leadership at club level has also earned him an Argentina call-up. It is an important step for a player whose situation looked considerably different during his time at Monza.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has continued to follow younger players closely, working alongside the established figures in extended training sessions at Ezeiza. Scaloni had considered leaving his post after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain, but his focus on the next generation has remained intact.
For Palacios, the international selection is another marker of progress rather than an endpoint. Estudiantes have provided the platform, Argentina have offered recognition, and Inter will be watching the final months of the loan with his future still open.
