Boca wanted him last window, now he's left Betis: Chimy Ávila | OneFootball

Argentine forward Ezequiel Chimy Ávila, who was on Boca’s radar in the last transfer window, will become a free agent from Betis on June 30 after the Spanish club decided to trigger the unilateral termination clause in the contract that ran through the end of the 2026/27 season.

The 32-year-old Rosario native was informed this Tuesday that Betis will not keep him in the squad in exchange for paying part of his deal for next season, so he can now look for a club as a free agent.

In the January transfer window, the striker had been on Boca’s radar. Although Boca did not make a formal offer, they did inquire about the conditions because he was liked by the club’s hierarchy led by Juan Román Riquelme.

“That’s up to the board and my agent. I have to focus on doing my job well, because if I start dealing with negotiations now, talking about whether I’m leaving or staying, then I’m neglecting my work. And my job is playing football,” the player himself admitted last January, amid rumors of his arrival.

At the same time, days later, his representative, in a conversation with TyC Sports, revealed: “Maybe if the president calls him and shows his interest, it will spark his desire to return. He spent some time in Boca’s youth ranks and feels a sense of belonging, he knows the Boca world, and it wouldn’t weigh on him. That’s a plus. On the other hand, he would be a striker who would contribute a great deal to the style of play they have today.”

It remains to be seen whether in the next transfer window Boca, who this Thursday will play for qualification to the Copa Libertadores round of 16, will make a move for a forward, since Ávila’s return to the country could be simpler in this context. Last season he played 30 matches, scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists, although he was mostly a substitute at Betis.

The Santa Fe native has been in Spain since 2017 after arriving at Huesca from San Lorenzo, where he played 30 matches and scored two goals. He joined Betis from Osasuna in January 2024 and has totaled 68 official appearances, with eight goals and five assists.

Ávila was also linked with Rosario Central, where his brother Gastón plays. In Boca’s youth ranks he was even teammates with Leandro Paredes, now captain of the team coached by Claudio Úbeda. Will Román call Chimy to add another center forward?

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