Aranda, Leonel Flores y Gelini among Boca youngsters promoted to Primera | OneFootball

Injuries in attack have pushed Claudio Úbeda to turn to Boca’s youth, with Leonel Flores, Tomás Aranda and Gonzalo Gelini called for the match against Estudiantes.

Without Edinson Cavani, Miguel Merentiel, Milton Giménez and Alan Velasco, who has a left knee injury, Úbeda used Lucas Janson as centre forward in the first official game and Íker Zufiaurre as his alternative. Following Velasco’s absence, he has added three prized Boca Predio prospects to the squad list, though one could miss out on the bench. According to Radiogol.com, the trio are yet to debut in Primera.

Gonzalo Gelini, a 19-year-old left-footed winger, was key under Mariano Herrón late in 2025, with decisive contributions as the side won the Copa Proyección Clausura, returning five goals and six assists in 20 matches. Pacey and direct, he is a natural option on the right, while Exequiel Zeballos is set on the left, so he would likely start among the substitutes.

Tomás Aranda, an 18-year-old playmaker, debuted in the Reserva at the end of 2024 and came to the fore in 2025, shining in the Proyección Clausura final against Gimnasia and the Trofeo de Campeones against Vélez. He posted four goals and four assists, carries at speed, and although right footed uses both feet well. With Alan Velasco and Carlos Palacios ahead, minutes will be hard to come by, but the exposure should aid his rise, and he is contracted until December 2029.

Leonel Flores, from Béccar, started 2025 strongly under Herrón, scoring eight in the Apertura alongside Valentino Simoni among the team’s top scorers. His form dipped later and he lost his place, but he struck the winner against Lanús in the last 16 and put Boca 2-1 up in extra time of the final against Gimnasia. He totalled 10 goals and one assist in 33 appearances, and his ability to play across the front or behind a front two could help Úbeda at least through pre-season.

Source: Radiogol.com