Hear
They say that good teams are built from back to front and Boca seems to be governed by that premise. After 14 months without titles (the last Olympic return was in the 2022 Argentine Super Cup, still with Hugo Ibarra as coach), Xeneize plans to incorporate at least five “senior” footballers facing the second semester, although with very clear priorities: first the defense, then the midfield, and finally the attack.
Unlike other clubs – especially First and First National – Boca does not have an area of scouting dedicated to professional football whose objective is the detection of talents and the detailed monitoring of footballers in the different leagues of the world. In Boca, this work is carried out (half-way) by the members of the Football Council (Raúl Cascini, Marcelo Delgado, Mauricio Serna, Jorge Bermúdez), who analyze players offered by different businessmen and suggest options according to their sense of smell and personal taste.
The last word is the absolute property of Juan Román Riquelme, who in turn has a wide contact agenda among which are some former Boca players (Leandro Paredes, Éver Banega, Jonathan Calleri) and others with present or past in the main European leagues (Arturo Vidal, James Rodríguez, Lucas Torreira ). However, the urgency to begin to populate a decimated squad forced the Xeneize leadership to focus the search for reinforcements on more earthly footballers with full possibilities of joining the squad during the first weeks of preseason in Ezeiza.
The first to get on the boat will be Gary Medel, former Boca midfielder (48 games, 7 goals, between 2009 and 2010) who became a central marker. The Chilean, 36 years old, terminated his relationship with Vasco da Gama (he had six months left on his contract) and, according to the club itself, will arrive in the country at this time to undergo a medical examination and sign a contract until December 2025. pitbull will reinforce a defense diminished by the constant injuries of Marcos Rojo and Cristian Lemathe conflict with Nicolás Valentini (he will be free now or at the end of the year) and the football decline of Nicolás Figal, who this Wednesday acted for the substitutes (the youth Di Lollo played) despite the absence of Rojo due to expulsion.
One of Martínez’s first requests was for an experienced defender “to put on the shirt and play.” Medel was not on the list of candidates, although his arrival also had the coach’s endorsement. The coach’s favorite center back is Aaron Anselmino from Pampa, a 19-year-old youth who returned to work this Tuesday after overcoming a tear. Martínez’s plan is to take him little by little and for him to gain rhythm as the games go by, surrounded by players with experience. Red? After apologizing for his expulsion against Platense, last weekend images of the defender in a bowling alley in La Plata and playing an intercountry tournament in Lisandro Olmos, on the outskirts of that city, emerged. Martínez has it in mind and is seriously considering the possibility that Rojo, despite being the team captain, will not start the semester in the starting 11. Faced with this situation, Boca once again started talks for Alan Franco, a 27-year-old left-handed center back who was very close to joining the club in September 2023. San Pablo would agree to negotiate him, although Luis Zubeldía, the team’s coach, considers him an essential piece of his defense.
Most of the new faces will have to do with the call-up of four footballers to the Argentine Under 23 National Team that will compete in the Paris Olympic Games and who will not be present in the decisive phase against Independiente del Valle for the round of 16 of the Cup South American. The starting midfield will not be present in the first leg with the Ecuadorians: Kevin Zenón, Ezequiel Fernández and Cristian Medina are a fixture on Javier Mascherano’s list, while Pol Fernández received his third yellow card against Fortaleza and will miss the first match. In addition, Leandro Brey will also travel to France and his place on the bench will be occupied by Javier García. Medina, in turn, is the player to sell in the current transfer market. Although he has just turned 22, he has played almost 150 games with the Boca shirt and the Council’s intention is “not to cut his career short” in case a good offer appears.
The absence of variants in that neuralgic sector of the playing field was one of the big problems that Martínez faced in these first months at the club, in which he had to improvise more than necessary and promote youth players like Mauricio Benítez (20) to the professional squad. years) and Milton Delgado (18), who will possibly return to Reserva. In that sense, The idea is to add two central midfielders and an eventual replacement for Medina.
Those who made the most progress in recent days were Fausto Vera and Tomás Belmonte. The former Argentinos Juniors already appeared in Boca in the previous transfer market and is one of Juan Román Riquelme’s great weaknesses. Corinthians had a debt of $3,450,000 with Argentinos Juniors and Boca had to take care of that sum in order to have the player. The talks did not advance, but Vera remained on the Xeneize radar. Boca’s first offer, of US$2,000,000 for 50% of the pass, was rejected by the Brazilian team, which in July 2022 promised to pay quadruple that figure for 70%. of the token. The second proposal would arrive before the weekend and would include a higher amount for a greater percentage of the midfielder’s pass. His arrival is not easy: Vera is also wanted by his former coach Gabriel Milito for Atlético Mineiro, who will play in the Libertadores round of 16 with San Lorenzo. The French club would have offered a significant sum of money plus the transfer of one of its substitute goalkeepers, since Timao has not yet found a successor for the recently retired Casio. At the beginning of the year, Corinthians rejected an offer from Olympiacos for $6,000,000.
Belmonte, for his part, alternates in Toluca in Mexico and is on vacation in Buenos Aires waiting to resolve his future. He was about to sign with Boca in mid-2022, when Lanús was looking to acquire 50% of Jorman Campuzano. In exchange, Xeneize asked for half of Toto’s pass, the part of which with Boca had already been agreed verbally. However, Lanús wanted to include other players in the negotiation and the agreement did not prosper. In July 2023, Granate transferred Belmonte to Toluca for a figure close to 4 million dollars (plus bonus, minus some taxes), for 80% of the transfer. The blonde gave the OK to return to the country and Boca will try to close it as soon as possible.
What could hinder the talks around Belmonte? A call from Luis Zubeldía to add Toto to the San Pablo squad, another of the good teams in the Copa Libertadores. This is where another of Boca’s options for the position appears: Giuliano Galoppo. The former Banfield player does not completely fit into Zubeldía’s idea and could look for new directions. The Tricolor paid 8,000,000 dollars (plus bonuses) for 90% of the pass and, if they release the player, they will try to recover the investment. Boca likes it and it could be a plan B in case Belmonte does not progress. For Toto, Xeneize is considering two proposals: 5.5 million for 70% or 3.5 for 50.
Another midfielder was offered was Lucas Robertone, recently relegated with Almería. Boca consulted conditions, but his arrival is not feasible. The club declared him non-transferable, he is interested in several teams in Spain and his termination clause is 40 million euros.
Above? “Upstairs we are already reinforced,” they joke from the Ezeiza property in relation to the recovery of Exequiel Zeballos, who trains practically alongside his teammates after leaving behind an injury to the anterior cruciate ligaments and the external meniscus of his right knee. Even so, Boca is also looking for options in attack. The name of Alan Velasco, with a year and a half left on his contract at Football Club Dallas, is one of the most attractive. The former Independiente has not played since November 2023 due to an injury similar to that of Zeballos and would be able to reappear starting next month. If the numbers close, Boca will make an attempt to hire him and would even offer to acquire a percentage of the pass.
Surnames that excite Boca in need of more glory.
