Boca won't move for Augusto Batalla, focus on two Argentina keepers | OneFootball

The former River player, now at Rayo Vallecano, did not rule out saying yes to Boca if Riquelme calls him as a reinforcement. Rulli and Walter Benítez are the names being targeted at Brandsen 805.

“The truth is that today it’s a little difficult because of the sporting situation, with a final so close, but I always say you have to listen to everyone”. Asked this Friday about a possible call from Boca, Augusto Batalla came out with this phrase plainly and without hesitation.

Aware that some time ago, when he was still San Lorenzo’s goalkeeper and captain, he openly said that he would never say yes to Boca or Huracán, the Rayo Vallecano keeper—who recently reached the Conference League final after eliminating Racing Strasbourg—spoke firmly about a hypothetical call from Riquelme.

On that subject, Batalla said in an afternoon interview with TyC Sports: “You have to analyze every offer that comes in. These days I’ve got a few more gray hairs, I’m a little older, and I answer the phone for everyone, I listen and I analyze.” Now then, does Boca intend to make a move for the goalkeeper who came through at River?

It is well known that Xeneize will go after a goalkeeper in the next transfer window due to Agustín Marchesín’s serious injury, added to Leandro Brey’s recent physical issues. Since they do not have a foreign-player slot available, the goalkeeper has to be Argentine. Despite meeting that requirement, Augusto Batalla is not on Boca’s radar.

In Boca Predio’s offices they heard Batalla’s statements this Friday, but they will not pick up the phone to go after him because Riquelme and Delgado already know whom to call to begin negotiations for this position: Walter Benítez and Gerónimo Rulli.

The two Argentina national team goalkeepers are the ones Boca is targeting to become the starting No. 1 after the end of the 2026 World Cup. Each situation is clearly different, but Boca will try to sign one of them in the next transfer window.

The context around Rulli and Benítez: why Boca would have a better chance with Walter

Rulli, 33, is the starter at Olympique de Marseille and is considered by Lionel Scaloni for the Argentina national team. One fact that gives Boca hope for his arrival is his contract situation, since his deal with the French club expires on June 30 next year.

With Benítez, the situation could be a bit simpler because the former Quilmes youth player has no involvement at Crystal Palace, so he could decide to seek a change of scenery for next season.

On top of that, Benítez is represented by Kristian Bereit, and that could bring him closer to the club because he has a good relationship with Boca’s leadership and works with two important players at the club, midfielders Ander Herrera and Santiago Ascacibar.

In any case, formal negotiations to sign one of these two goalkeepers to strengthen the position for the second half of the season could begin in the coming weeks. In both cases, Boca will have to make a significant financial outlay to get the deal done.

That being the case, Augusto Batalla is not on Boca’s shortlist for the next transfer window. If he leaves Rayo Vallecano in midyear, it will not be to play for the club from La Ribera, even though he left the door open to a call.

Augusto Batalla’s career and titles

With River, he won the 2014 Copa Sudamericana, 2015 Recopa Sudamericana, 2015 Copa Libertadores, 2015 Suruga Bank Championship, 2016 Recopa Sudamericana, and the 2016 and 2017 Copa Argentina.

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