Leandro Paredes Returns 13 Days After Injury as Boca Grind Out Win Over Lanus

He put the captain's armband back on and won again. Leandro Paredes made his return at La Bombonera just 13 days after suffering a muscle injury in Vicente Lopez, and Boca ground out a tense win over Lanus in the Torneo Clausura. The timeline, he admitted himself, got tighter than it should have.

"They rushed it a bit and we sped up the recovery," the midfielder acknowledged in an interview with ESPN right after the final whistle. He didn't need to say much more than that: all you had to do was watch how he moved with the ball in the opening minutes to see he still wasn't at one hundred percent.

Obviously the injury needed a couple more days, but we knew it was really important to be out there, so we sped up the recovery a bit. I played those 30 minutes a little scared, but thankfully it worked out and we won, which was the most important thing.Leandro Paredes

The result, tight and hard fought right to the end, gave some breathing room to a Boca side that needed a home win to snap its bad run. "We were just saying it was time for things to turn our way for once. It's good and it gives you confidence, hopefully we keep going down this road," added the captain, with the satisfaction of someone who knows that at Boca, hard fought wins count double.

A message for Aranda and Bareiro

The week had started with news that hit hard inside the club: Tomas Aranda fractured his fibula and had to undergo surgery, a tough blow for a player who had been growing into a bigger role. On top of that came the loss of Adam Bareiro. Paredes didn't shy away from the topic and had a few words for both, especially the defender.

The news about Adam and Tomi was really sad, because of who he is, because of what he's been through, because of what he means to us during this time. But unfortunately that's part of this, it can happen. What matters now is that he focuses on his recovery and on coming back stronger, which I'm sure he will. For our part, we want to give him this win, which will surely do him a lot of good.Leandro Paredes

The suspension from the national team and Milan's interest

The other topic hovering over his present is the Argentina national team. A few weeks ago he had left a question mark over his future there, and now a 10-match suspension has been added following the incidents that broke out after a final. Asked about it, he was cautious: "The truth is that before making any decision I obviously have to talk to the coach. I haven't had the chance to speak with him yet." And on the punishment itself, he didn't hold back a bit of criticism: "The suspension came out now, excessive, and now it's time to think about what's ahead, which will surely involve important things."

There was also room to talk transfer market. Milan's name had come up strongly as a suitor, something the World Cup winner from Qatar 2022 confirmed outright, while making clear where his priority lies today.

Several clubs reached out. I'm grateful to the ones who reached out to the people who work with me, and I also spoke with several of those clubs myself just to thank them, because I was very clear about what I wanted and what I want for my future. I'm in the place I love, the place I wanted to be.Leandro Paredes

He wrapped up with a line that sums up his present at the club pretty well: "It's tough, yes, but I came back from over there because I wanted to be here, and now that I'm here, where would I go. I'm happy. Hopefully the results go our way, but I'm where I want to be."