Blow for Boca: Néstor Lorenzo turns down Riquelme request | OneFootball

Boca under Rodolfo Arruabarrena is not taking its foot off the gas. The team remains in the fight on all fronts, and to do so it needs to have the entire squad available. However, with the FIFA international break just around the corner, it does not have an easy task. Several of its players were called up by their national teams, as is the case with Álvaro Montero, for whom Juan Román Riquelme made a special request.

In recent matches, the Colombian goalkeeper has become a key piece for the Vasco. And, considering that next weekend the Xeneize will have a crucial clash with Racing in the Copa Argentina, Riquelme picked up the phone to speak with Colombia national team coach Néstor Lorenzo. He asked that Montero not be called up for the triple round of friendlies, but the response was not what he expected.

After Boca’s 2-0 win over San Lorenzo, Vasco Arruabarrena confirmed that Román had spoken with the Argentine coach, and the answer was emphatic: Montero is traveling to the United States to join the Colombia squad. “He needs him, and I’m not going to take away a player’s chance to represent his country,” the blue-and-gold manager lamented at the press conference.

Arruabarrena’s words.

It is worth noting that Álvaro Montero is the undisputed starter at the club from La Ribera and, thanks to his great performances, he earned the right to represent his country in the friendlies against Mexico (9/26), Paraguay (10/2), and Peru (10/6). A situation that forces the coach to rethink his strategy for the clash against Racing in the Copa Argentina.

Boca decides on Montero’s replacement

With Álvaro Montero’s absence confirmed for the match against the Academia next Sunday, September 27, starting at 7 p.m. at the Gigante de Arroyito Stadium, Rodolfo Arruabarrena has two alternatives between the posts: Leandro Brey and Javier García.

The 24-year-old young goalkeeper has played many more matches than Javi over the course of the year. Following Marchesín’s injury — in the first half of the year — he became Boca’s starting keeper, but with the arrival of Montero and Arruabarrena, he lost his place and moved to the bench. So far in the second half of 2026, he has only appeared in two matches: Sarmiento (Copa Argentina) and Central Córdoba (Clausura Tournament).

Álvaro Montero will miss the Copa Argentina match against Racing.

For his part, Javi García has had virtually no action since 2023. Since then, he has played only two matches. The last was on May 5 of this year, when he had to come on in the 24th minute of the first half due to Brey’s injury, in the match against Barcelona de Guayaquil in the Copa Libertadores group stage.

So far, nothing has been confirmed, but everything seems to indicate that Leandro Brey will be the man between the posts in the clásico against Racing in the Copa Argentina, as Boca looks to secure a place in the tournament semifinals.

Keep reading:

"It’s the first time": Arruabarrena’s praise for the players after the win in the clásico

Player ratings from Boca’s clásico win over San Lorenzo

When Boca plays again after beating San Lorenzo in the Clausura

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