Kevin Zenón leaves Boca for Mexico's Atlas to reunite with Hernán Crespo

Boca is bracing to lose one of its most skillful left-footed players. Kevin Zenón is on the verge of leaving the club to join Mexico's Atlas, a team now coached by a fellow Argentine: Hernán Crespo.

The news was broken by Emiliano Raddi on SportsCenter Night, and he left little room for doubt: the deal is moving forward and only the final paperwork remains. "All the documents are being finalized" to complete the midfielder's exit, the journalist reported, adding that the plan is for Zenón to "travel in the coming hours" to Guadalajara.

What stands out about this case is that Zenón wasn't coming off a stretch on the bench. Quite the opposite. Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena had him as a regular starter, relying on him more than previous coaches had during their time in charge at Boca. In fact, the player from Corrientes was decisive in the round of 16 of the Copa Argentina against Vélez, where he scored the winning penalty, and he also found the net against Gimnasia de Mendoza in the same tournament. He wasn't leaving due to poor form. He was leaving in the middle of a strong run.

So what changed? Crespo's arrival at Atlas proved decisive. The former striker had already shown interest in signing Zenón, and that connection ended up tipping the scales. The negotiations weren't straightforward: Boca had rejected an initial offer from the Mexican club, deeming it insufficient, and only after several rounds of back and forth did the two sides bridge the financial gap and finalize the agreement.

A short but intense stint at Boca

Zenón, born in the province of Corrientes and formerly of Unión de Santa Fe, joined Boca in January 2024 for 3,500,000 dollars for 80 percent of his rights. Since then, the left-footed midfielder has played 92 official matches in the blue and gold jersey, including appearances with limited minutes, and scored 11 goals. That's a solid tally for a midfielder who was never a natural finisher.

Before his move to Boca, Zenón had also come through the youth ranks of the Argentina national team, playing for the Under-23 side. Now, at 25, he faces a different kind of challenge: leaving La Bombonera behind to settle in Mexico and reunite on the field with a coach who wants him as a key piece from day one.

Interest from Greece's Panathinaikos had been strong in recent weeks, but that move ultimately fell through. Atlas won out in the end, and everything points to confirmation in the coming hours of what seemed unthinkable until recently: Zenón, in the best form of his career, packing his bags to leave Boca.