World champion Leandro Paredes completed his return to Argentina's Boca Juniors on Thursday night, the club where he began his career, with an emotional; reunion celebrated by thousands of fans who filled the club’s iconic La Bombonera stadium.
"The feeling is incredible. My desire was to return while I was still in good shape, at an age when I feel physically well. I've matured a lot, and I hope to get fit quickly so I can lend a hand," said the 31-year-old midfielder at a press conference.
He was flanked by club president and former teammate Juan Román Riquelme. “He's back home. Enjoy every day to the fullest,” the legendary ex-playmaker told journalists.
Paredes, who never stopped smiling during the presentation, said he is excited about a return that had been talked about long before the recent Club World Cup.
“This is one of the most important days of my life. I left here when I was very young. I played for the best teams in Europe, but coming home is something I dreamed of from the first day I left,” he said.
“I can now say that I am a Boca player. It's a great day and I'm enjoying it very much,” celebrated the World Cup winner.
On par with the unveiling of other club legends, such as Carlos Tévez and Riquelme himself, some 50,000 fans packed La Bombonera. to give the midfielder a welcome that Paredes could hardly comprehend.
“My return is only because of the love I have for this club ... Only now do I realise what this means, what the people of Boca represent to me. It's incredible that they filled the stadium to welcome me,” he said.
The former AS Roma, Paris St Germain, Zenit St Petersburg and Juventus player said that since he left, he has changed “a lot” as a “player” and as a “person.”
“I come with a lot of experience, with a different mindset, and I hope to continue doing so at Boca to achieve important things,” he said.
After 12 seasons in Europe, Paredes returns to Argentine football as the star summer signing for Boca, which had a lacklustre 2025.
The midfielder is Riquelme's trump card and with the club president under significant pressure, good performances are expected – and demanded.
“The dream is to achieve important things again. It's easy to say that you want the Libertadores, but you have to take it step by step. I want to win titles, but you have to take it step by step,” said the midfielder.
In his first spell at Xeneize, when he was very young, he played 31 games and scored five goals.
Paredes played his last official match just over a month ago for AS Roma. He stressed that he needed time to get back to full fitness.
“I'm coming back from holiday, so first I'll have to get myself in shape,” he said, adding that he has already spoken to coach Miguel Ángel Russo.
No date has been set for his second debut, though Paredes did confirm he would wear number five.
Regarding his chances of continuing to play for the Argentine national team with a view to the 2026 World Cup, Paredes said he had spoken to coach Lionel Scaloni about it. “He was very clear with me. He told me that it's not important where I play, but that I have rhythm, that I play, so that was also a plus for returning to Argentina,” he added.
Paredes took to the pitch accompanied by his wife and children, where he was cheered by thousands of fans in a blue and gold celebration.
"I always dreamed of this return, of doing it this way, coming to this stadium is a huge joy. I've been with this club since I was a child. I'm here today with my family, and they helped me with this decision. I did it out of love, that's why I'm here. I came back to experience the madness of the Boca world, and I hope to enjoy it for a long time," he said.
He may get his first minutes in the second match of the Clausura tournament, when Boca hosts Unión de Santa Fe at La Bombonera.
– TIMES/AFP
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