Paredes: Gago key to Boca return before World Cup, “My phone blew up” | OneFootball

In July, it will be one year since Leandro Paredes became Boca’s conductor. Time flies, but on the field, when he controls the ball and shields it with his body, everything seems to move at his pace. Since he put on the blue and gold shirt again, the club has once again carried the shine of a title contender in every competition. And he has already won two Superclásicos in a row. The latest was last Sunday at the Monumental: 1-0, thanks to his penalty goal.

Every chance he gets, the midfielder and captain thanks Juan Román Riquelme for placing so much faith in him. Although the Boca president is not the only one responsible for him leaving behind the luxuries and pleasures of Rome and returning to Argentine football.

This star comeback, one season earlier than planned, happened thanks to a former Boca coach and, above all, a role model in Paredes’ position. “The plan was for it to happen after the World Cup. I think Fer Gago was one of the people who helped me make this decision much earlier,” he admitted on Davo Xeneize and Gastón Edul’s stream.

The five-hour time difference between Argentina and Italy was no obstacle for Pintita, who put pressure on him day and night and tried to convince him to move to Buenos Aires. The same plan Paredes is now carrying out with Paulo Dybala. “My phone was blowing up. He called Marita, he called me. His wife called my wife... Once I convinced her, we tried to come, but it didn’t happen, and I ended up at Boca in June,” he said.

Although he arrived at the La Ribera club with a huge smile on his face, excited to celebrate another title and conquer South America, it was not easy to change his life overnight, for him or for his whole family: “It was a long process. Talks with my wife and my kids, who are older now and understand. It wasn’t easy for them. Adapting to the country wasn’t easy. They’re much better now, but the truth is they had a really hard time.” And he concluded: “People see what you show on the outside, but behind closed doors things happen that keep you from being 100% focused on what you need to be focused on.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.