Can Boca sign a keeper after Marchesín's injury? CONMEBOL rules | OneFootball

The former Lanús player faces several months of recovery, and the transfer window has not opened yet. Can they register a replacement?

Agustín Marchesín’s injury is a real headache for Boca, who lost their starting goalkeeper at a key point in the semester and probably for all of 2026. The torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee leaves Leandro Brey as the starter (with Javier García on the bench) and raises a question: can Juan Román Riquelme go out and look for a replacement now?

By the rules, the Xeneize can sign an emergency goalkeeper and even register him to play immediately in the Copa Libertadores. However, there are two limitations: the closed TMS (Transfer Matching System) and the foreign-player quota reduce the range of options.

If the club from La Ribera decides to look for a goalkeeper now, he will have to come from Argentine domestic football and hold Argentine nationality. If those requirements are met, a request must be submitted to the AFA, which will grant 10 days to negotiate. If an agreement is reached, the chosen player will be able to put on the gloves and play this very semester.

The outlook changes if Boca chooses to stick with Brey until the break for the 2026 World Cup and then look for a goalkeeper once the transfer window is open. That would give them the chance to sign a player from any league. In addition, they could part ways with a foreign player if they wanted to add a goalkeeper of another nationality.

What the CONMEBOL regulations say

The Copa Libertadores rules allow a goalkeeper to be signed outside the transfer window if the club proves that the player suffered a serious injury. This must be certified by CONMEBOL’s Medical Commission.

It should be noted that if this special authorization is requested, the substitution will be permanent. This means Marchesín will not be able to be registered again for the 2026 Copa Libertadores. If the goalkeeper were to make a record recovery, he could play in the domestic tournament, but not in the international competition.

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