Rodrigo Battaglia Returns to Training With Boca Ten Months After Achilles Surgery

Nearly ten months later, Rodrigo Battaglia set foot on the field again with the rest of the squad. It wasn't an official match just yet, but it was a training session that Boca is celebrating like a win in its own right: this Wednesday, the midfielder rejoined workouts with the professional group, according to journalist Augusto Cesar of ESPN, after completing his recovery from the Achilles surgery that had kept him out since the start of the year.

The news comes at a sweet moment for Rodolfo Arruabarrena's team, which just beat Sao Paulo 1-0 at La Bombonera in the quarterfinals of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana. Miguel Merentiel scored the goal, giving Boca a slim but real edge heading into the second leg at the Morumbi, where a spot in the semifinals will be on the line.

Back to Battaglia. The 35-year-old midfielder underwent surgery on February 3 for chronic insertional tendinopathy in his right Achilles tendon, an injury that typically requires a long process with no shortcuts. Boca chose not to rush anything: months of individualized work, strength recovery, and a gradual return designed to keep the player from suffering a setback as soon as he's back in official competition.

For Arruabarrena, who has been dealing with physical absences in several positions, having available again a player who can play both central midfield and defense is welcome news. Demanding weeks lie ahead, with the Sudamericana, the Torneo Clausura, and the Copa Argentina all competing for space on the calendar, and every extra option in the squad matters.

A Crowded Midfield

Still, the fact that Battaglia is training with the group doesn't mean he'll be thrown straight into action. Boca's midfield is stacked with heavyweight names fighting for a spot: Leandro Paredes, Santiago Ascacibar, and Milton Delgado stand as Arruabarrena's first options, so the former Atletico Mineiro man will need to rebuild his competitive rhythm before thinking about challenging for a starting role.

Even so, simply being able to move with the rest of the group again is a huge step after so much time on the sidelines. Battaglia, who made his top-flight debut with Huracan, has played 35 official matches for Boca and scored five goals since arriving at the club. Before joining the Xeneize, he played in leagues in Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, a background that gives him plenty of experience to offer during the busiest stretch of the year.

He has yet to log a single minute this season because of the injury, so the logical next step will be building up gradually in training until the coaching staff decides he's ready to be called up again. In the meantime, Boca's focus is already on the Morumbi, where the team will need to protect that slim advantage over Sao Paulo to keep its Sudamericana campaign alive.