Botafogo Pursues Boca Juniors Midfielder Cristian Medina with Record-Breaking Offer

15 days before the start of the transfer window, which opens on January 11, Botafogo’s SAF board has Cristian Medina as one of the main targets to reinforce the team — he had already been tried in the mid-2022 transfer window, unsuccessfully. Not surprisingly, the club offered Boca Juniors R$34 million to sign the midfielder. Refused by the Argentines, the value would make Medina the biggest signing in the history of the black and white team. The Xeneizes are irreducible and only agree to negotiate the jewel for a termination fine of 15 million dollars (around R$73 million). The figures are justified not only by the player’s good performance in the team that revealed him, but also by the athlete’s future projection.

At 21 years old, Medina is considered one of Boca Juniors’ biggest revelations in recent years. Capable of playing in practically all midfield positions, he could compete for position with Tchê Tchê or Eduardo, for example.

— Medina is a player with a dynamic that is very rarely seen in Argentine football. He has the ability to run a lot, to press very well on the rival field, as he always does. A lot of movement, he carries the ball very well. He has good finishing from long and medium distance. He scored a great goal from the corner this year (against Platense, in August). The truth is that he is a player who, for me, his best place is behind a number 9, that is, as a link between the midfielders and the attackers. He can play in several positions, but I think where he can play best is floating between the midfielders and closer to the attackers — explained Luis Alberto Fragossi, presenter on Mundo Boca radio. Revealed by Boca Juniors in 2020, Medina averaged 43 matches in the last three seasons. In 2023, he made 50 appearances for Boca Juniors, with five goals and four assists. The good performance is no secret for the Xeneize board and for the idol and current president Riquelme.

— He is very supported, he is an emblematic player of this board led by Riquelme. He debuted when Riquelme was in charge of football at Boca (before being elected president two weeks ago, the former player was vice-president of football). He has a background in youth teams. He played under-17 World Cup, South American. He was mentioned in the main selection. He is a very important player for this board — revealed Fragossi.

Without enough cash to pay the amount required by Boca Juniors, Botafogo would need the help of partners Lyon and Crystal Palace to sign Medina — both clubs make up Eagle Holding, a company in which John Textor invests in football. The idea is that Medina, with a contract with Boca Juniors until 2027, will be bought by one of the two clubs and, initially, loaned to Botafogo.

Even though the figures are considered high by Brazilian standards, those who follow the young man closely say that they are not high due to the midfielder’s talent and development potential.

— I don’t think there will be much more (negotiation) beyond the exit clause and, well, a lot will depend on him too. If you say you want to leave through the clause, there’s nothing you can do. The fine, for a player in the projection that Medina has, is not high — said Fragossi, who considered: — He had a high performance increase this year, but there were important matches where he was expected to maintain his level and ended up not playing, neither he nor the Boat. Neither of them played the final against Fluminense (from the Libertadores) at the height.

2023-12-27 06:30:11
#Find #whats #special #midfielder #Cristian #Medina #Botafogos #biggest #target #market