Paredes could be dropped from the Argentina squad and return early to Boca | OneFootball

"He has prioritized Argentine football and at Boca he is becoming increasingly important," reflected Lionel Scaloni on the influence of Leandro Paredes, whom he called up and plans to start for the Argentine national team this Thursday against Venezuela. Without Enzo Fernández, the Xeneize midfielder is expected to be part of the starting eleven, and this news also impacts Brandsen 805, not only because of his physical condition but also because he may return sooner than expected.

If there is one focus that they will pay special attention to at La Ribera in this last double round of qualifiers, it is that their star player finishes in optimal conditions and does not suffer unforeseen circumstances. Today, the number 5 is the master and lord of Miguel Ángel Russo's team's game, the axis of Boca's footballing rebirth, and they cannot afford to lose him.

In that sense, there is an extra factor thinking about the match with Venezuela that could be a problem for Scaloni but, in contrast, a benefit for Russo: Paredes has a yellow card and, if he receives another one on Thursday, he will miss the end of the qualifiers against Ecuador on Tuesday, September 9.

That is, if that situation occurs, the coach of the Argentine national team would release him from the concentration knowing that he will not be able to use him and therefore he would not even travel to Guayaquil.

The consequence? Instead of returning to Boca on Thursday 11, just three days before the match with Rosario Central, he would do so this same week and the coaching staff would recover him more "whole" physically. That is, with only one game under his belt and not two.

In addition to the advantage in that aspect, the other fundamental facet has to do with the fact that Russo will be able to plan the strategy with Paredes at Boca Predio from early on. A significant fact given his influence on the eleven and the importance of the match thinking about the annual table and qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores (Xeneize is second and Canalla, third).

"With us he has played, he has come out, he has been on the bench, but that does not mean that for me he is fundamental. Sometimes from inside, sometimes from outside, but he is a footballer that with the ball there are very few like him, very few. He has an incredible criterion to play," analyzed Scaloni, full of praise for the 31-year-old midfielder.

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