Paredes’ fitness problems return as Boca weigh whether to risk captain in São Paulo

Leandro Paredes’ latest muscle complaint has revived Boca Juniors’ concern over how much their captain can safely play.

Paredes left the Copa Argentina match against Vélez in the 42nd minute of the second half, shortly before the game went to penalties. He walked off under his own power and showed no obvious pain, but staff placed ice on the back of his left thigh as soon as he sat on the bench. After the match, he moved slowly across the field to greet his teammates.

Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena sought to ease concerns. “He had a warning, he is intelligent. He signalled and came off, nothing serious,” he said. But the issue comes after months of accumulated fatigue for Paredes.

He played the second half against Universidad Católica in May with a torn muscle, on the night Boca were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores. Three days later, he travelled to the World Cup and spent 25 days recovering with Argentina’s medical staff. He gradually increased his minutes, earned a starting place and appeared in the second half of the final against Spain.

After returning, Paredes joined Boca training immediately despite advice from the coaching staff to take several days off. He then played the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 32 against O’Higgins and had only 72 hours with his family in Bariloche. He missed Boca’s Clausura opener against Riestra before returning for the second leg.

He went on to play six matches in 17 days, then felt another problem and came off at halftime against Platense. That injury ruled him out against Recoleta in Asunción and Racing in Avellaneda. Although the recommendation was to wait longer, Paredes returned against Lanús for the final half-hour. Arruabarrena now faces the task of keeping him on the field without overburdening him.

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He had a warning, he is intelligent. He signalled and came off, nothing serious.