Fernando Gago called Leandro Paredes to return to Boca in 2025 (REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)
These are very special hours for Fernando Gago. After confirming his departure from Chivas de Guadalajara, the former central midfielder traveled to Buenos Aires and this Monday he will have his official presentation as the new coach of Boca Juniors. In the afternoon, Pintita will lead his first practice in charge of the team at the club’s property in Ezeiza and will have his first contact with the press.
After several days of talks with the Mexican soccer institution, and after paying the exit clause, Gago will fulfill his dream and return to Xeneize, the space where he took his first steps in professional soccer. In the midst of that, in the last hours a news was known that generated excitement among Boca fans.
According to journalists Gastón Edul and Marcos Bonocore, the former Racing Club coach contacted Leandro Paredes before the weekend with the intention of showing him his interest in adding him to his project in 2025. It must be remembered that the midfielder who plays today At Roma, Italy, he has a contract with the club until June of next year.
“In 2025 I want you here,” would have been the phrase that Gago said to Paredes according to what the reporter who follows Mundo Boca wrote for the TNT Sports channel and can be seen during the network’s broadcasts of Xeneize matches.
Leandro Paredes has already shown his desire to return to Xeneize (Télam)
For his part, Edul recounted on his networks the desire of the brand new Xeneize coach. “Fernando Gago is in contact with Leandro Paredes. He told him that he wants to count on him from June 2025 to play in the Club World Cup. Paredes has not made a decision yet. His contract in Rome ends in 7 months,” he wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter).
In March, Paredes was present at La Bombonera to follow the then team led by Diego Martínez. After his visit to Brandsen 805, he spoke about his possible return and was forceful. “When I left at 18 I said I wanted to retire here again, because I didn’t play for that long. The illusion is there. I don’t set deadlines or times, I live my career day by day. “Riquelme told me that he is not going to call me, that I should come back whenever I want,” he said in an interview with TyC Sports in April.
It must be remembered that Paredes mentioned that he would like to wear the blue and gold shirt again “with Román as president.” What’s more, in that interview he referred to the topic: “He told me that he wants me to come back before he leaves, but he will surely be at the club for many years; “People are happy with what they are doing.”
Gago and Paredes shared a squad during the 2013 season. What’s more, they came to play together in what was Boca’s defeat, at home, against All Boys 2-0 in the Initial Tournament of that year. The midfielders entered in the second half: Pintita entered in place of Cristian Erbes, while the number 5 of the Argentine team entered for Riquelme.
This Monday, the new Boca coach will live a day that will surely be unforgettable. After his arrival in Argentina after 9 p.m. on Sunday, Gago spoke in front of a dozen journalists who were waiting for him at the Ezeiza international airport. “Good evening everyone. Thanks for being here. I’m going to be short and honest, tomorrow we will have time to talk, to have a good press conference. I am very grateful to the Boca fan for the love I received these days. “I’m coming home,” he said.
Fernando Gago in La Bombonera, a postcard that will be seen again soon
