Leandro Paredes, the Argentine midfielder currently with AS Roma, is at the center of intense transfer speculation, particularly concerning his potential return to Boca Juniors. Despite Boca Juniors having until March 12 to secure another player following the departure of Mauricio Benítez to Royal Antwerp, hopes of Paredes joining the club have effectively come to an end.
The January transfer window for Italy closed on February 3, which firmly solidified Paredes' place at Roma for the time being. According to sports journalist Germán García Grova, the 28-year-old player has declined interest from Santos, Brazil, thereby indicating his commitment to remaining with the Italian club.
Paredes' situation is complex. His current contract with Roma is set to expire next June. A key clause allows the contract to be automatically renewed until June 2026, provided he plays at least 50% of the matches this season—after which his exit clause would increase to €10 million. This regulation adds pressure on Boca Juniors as they weigh their options for next season.
The negotiations surrounding Paredes have been prolonged and fraught with challenges. Juan Román Riquelme, Boca Juniors' vice-president, had hoped to expand on previous discussions to facilitate Paredes' move home. Notably, the financial penalties associated with securing Paredes have shifted: unlike during the previous transfer window, Boca won't incur the €5 million compensation fee demanded for his release.
This flexibility may provide Boca with additional leverage as they plan for the Club World Cup, where the boost of having Paredes could significantly strengthen their squad. The team has already secured several talented midfielders like Williams Alarcón, Rodrigo Battaglia, and Ander Herrera, yet the allure of Paredes—an alumnus of the Boca system—remains strong.
One factor intensifying the speculation is the player’s connection with Neymar, with whom Paredes shared a fruitful spell at Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar reportedly advocated for Paredes to join Santos. The duo's friendship could serve as a potential draw, but Paredes has reaffirmed his desire to stay with Roma.
During the failed negotiation attempts, Boca Juniors had extended Paredes an offer for four years, allegedly with remuneration comparable to Edinson Cavani's, another high-profile midfielder. Unfortunately for Boca, Paredes found the terms insufficient to entice him back to his roots.
While Boca Juniors must now pivot their focus to the players on their roster—like Alarcón, Battaglia, and Herrera—the management continues to dream of securing Paredes when the transfer market opens again. The tides of transfer rumors can change rapidly, and fans remain hopeful about the chance to see one of their former stars return.
With the Club World Cup on the horizon, the urgency for Boca to reinforce their squad has never been higher. Riquelme's next move may well be to revisit negotiations with Paredes, possibly leveraging the prospect of Boca's financial viability without the burden of the previous resarcimiento. The future remains uncertain, but the prospect of returning home nonetheless drives speculation and interest.