Tricky negotiations

Boca Juniors will this week begin to make their way through a few situations which could potentially define the club’s year. First, negotiations appear to be beginning to keep Juan Román Riquelme at the club beyond the 30th of June, when his loan from Villarreal currently runs out.

This could be tricky – Villarreal claim to have four other interested parties, each prepared to pay handsomely (they’ve set a price of €20 million – clearly outside the reach of any Argentine side). And yet Román doesn’t appear solely motivated by money, and has found some of the best form of his career since returning to Boca. An extension to the loan deal, Olé think, is not out of the question – if perhaps a little wishful. But it’s not all Boca have to cope with…

Next, Thursday night’s Copa Libertadores quarter-final, second leg against Libertad. Having only drawn 1-1 in La Bombonera last week, rescued by Martín Palermo’s late leveller, Boca have it all to do in Asunción against the side who put out River Plate at this stage last year.

Miguel Russo, Boca’s manager, insists that ‘Boca have overcome more difficult situations than this,’ but the danger of not a single Argentine club reaching the semis is looking very real. The eleven who will start in Asunción, last-minute injuries not withstanding, will be: Mauricio Caranta; Hugo Ibarra, Daniel Díaz, Morel Rodríguez, Clemente Rodríguez; Pablo Ledesma, Ever Banega, Neri Cardozo; J.R. Riquelme; Rodrigo Palacio and Martín Palermo.

The other negotiations Boca find themselves in, if the rumour mill is to be believed, are to do with transfers. El Gráfico reports that following a meeting on an Uruguayan beach between directors of the two clubs back in January, Boca are now poised to sign Mario ‘El Gringo‘ Bolatti, who the magazine describes as a ‘blond and elegant midfielder who Maradona is mad about.’ Perhaps he’ll come in handy if Riquelme doesn’t stay…?

Finally, Catalán daily Sport claims that Boca are currently busy buying the registration of star striker Rodrigo Palacio. Confused? Palacio is apparently still owned by a co-operative of agents (as are so many young South American players), as well as boyhood club Huracán de Tres Arroyos. Boca want to buy 75% of his registration, in order to… sell him on to Barcelona.

You read it here first (in English, at least).