Leandro Paredes was officially presented as a Boca Juniors player on Thursday, returning to the club where he began his professional career. The event took place at La Bombonera and drew more than 50,000 fans, despite there being no scheduled match.
The presentation began with a press conference alongside club president Juan Román Riquelme. Paredes then walked onto the field, where fans had been waiting for hours amid music, chants, and a fireworks display. Dressed in Boca’s colors and joined by his family, the midfielder addressed the crowd from the center of the pitch.
“I’m happy to be here. I always dreamed of this. I didn’t expect it to be like this. I’m grateful and I hope to bring you many good moments,” said Paredes.
He admitted he was unsure how many fans would attend:
“I was afraid people wouldn’t come… but when I started seeing the images, I understood again what Boca means.”
Throughout the event, Paredes joined in chants from the stands and led fans in a well-known Boca anthem. The crowd responded by referencing a future title win “with Leo Paredes.”
“Coming back to this stadium and this club is very meaningful. I’ve been part of Boca since I was very young, and returning with my family here is special. I made this decision out of love,” he added.
Paredes also made clear his goals for this new stage:
“I’ll try to give back the support with titles, which is what we’re all aiming for. Thank you very much.”
The midfielder returns to Boca after more than a decade in European football, most recently playing for Roma and winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
Footage from Leandro Paredes’ first training session with Boca Juniors on Friday:
