Diego Martinez He made an unusual decision last night: He made four youth debut in Boca’s first, in the context of an international and away match. It was the final note of an atypical day no matter how you look at it: playing at almost 4,000 meters above sea level, after having traveled in 4×4 trucks to reach the destination and against a rival that Boca had never faced before. In this context, the final 0-0 against Nacional Potosí, in the city of the same name in Bolivia, marked the team’s debut in the Copa Sudamericana.
When Boca felt the effects of the altitude and the local team felt that they could keep the three points, the Xeneize coach did not hesitate to use the young people to put fresh legs on the field, in addition to those who had started the game. With an addition: in addition to Lautaro Di Lollo, who was a starter, three others made their debut with the blue and gold shirt. More clearly: Xeneize closed the match with the following team, deployed in a 5-3-2 tactical formation: Leandro Brey (21 years old); Ariel Molas (19), Di Lollo (20), Aaron Anselmino (18), Nicolás Valentini (22) and Marcelo Saracchi (25); Jorman Campuzano (27), Milton Delgado (18) and Ezequiel Bullaude (23); Iker Zufiaurre (18) and Darío Benedetto (33). Seven young players, most of them not in first class, to play the final minutes: this formation gives an average age of 22 years.
And what Martínez devised was not bad. Because the bet was strong and the boys were up to the task. In fact, the DT praised them at the press conference: “I am happy because several boys from the reserve were able to debut and one feels that they are prepared to play in Boca, with the responsibility that that means.” Even the club, through their social networks, celebrated those debuts with a postcard of each of them and the phrase: “Night of debuts,” accompanied by a star.
One by one, who is who in this poker of renewed xeneize blood.
Lautaro Di Lollo
His presence was due to a series of unfortunate events: Lucas’ serious injury Blondel (ruptured cruciate ligaments in his right knee) and Luis’s feverish condition Advincula. Added to that was the recent loan transfer of Marcelo Weigandt to Inter Miami. Its premiere took place after sign the scoresheet 16 times as a substitute and watch those games from the benchas an unused exchange alternative.
Category 2004, Di Lollo -born in CABA- usually plays as a defenderbut the team’s needs to face Nacional Potosí moved him to the right side, at least until Martínez stopped a line of five for the last minutes of the game.
Of good size (he measures 1.89 meters) and with a contract until December 2026, has a termination clause of 15 million dollars. He already knows what it is to represent the Argentine team. Together with Nahuel Genés, he was a member of the Albiceleste Under 20 team that, led by Javier Mascherano, played in the Maurice Revello Tournament in France and was one of the figures. He also became champion of the 2021 Champions Trophy of the Reserve tournament with Boca, with Hugo Ibarra as coach.
His work against Nacional Potosí was discreet, with successes and also some failures. In his defense it is worth noting that he played in a position that is not usual for him. For LA NACION its score was 5.
Iker Zufiaurre
He was born in Córdoba in 2005is 18 years old and dazzled Diego Martínez in the preseason: He promoted him to train alongside the professional team and even used him in an informal friendly against Estudiantes de Buenos Aires. This boy generates so much enthusiasm that Boca has already protected him: he has a contract until December 2028 and a termination clause of 20 million dollars.
His first connection with football was at the Delia María Athletic Club, in Córdoba. Although He arrived at the blue and gold club at the age of 12 and there he completed all the training divisions. He started as a hooker, but over the years he advanced on the field to his current role: winger or area forward.. He was one of the figures of the Xeneize youth team that, in 2022, with his penalty goal, won the Evo Cup in Bolivia from River.
Affirmed as a starter in the Reserve, he stood out in the recent Copa Libertadores U-20 held in Uruguay, where the xeneize was runner-up. In his absolute debut in First Division he replaced Lucas Janson 17 minutes into the match. His work was good, with some overflows and dribbles: he showed daring.
Ariel Molas
He plays as a center back and is a category 2004. A curiosity: of the seven youth players who were part of the Boca delegation that traveled to Potosí (the others are Sebastián Díaz Robles, Román Rodriguez and Julián Ceballos), he He is the only one who does not yet have a signed contract.
His debut in Reserve occurred at the end of 2023 and is just establishing itself in that category. He was also part of the runner-up squad of the Libertadores Sub 20. On good footing and a dedication in accordance with what the ADN Xeneize, His job at the height was to complete as a winger the line of 5 defenders that Martínez stopped at the end of the match with Nacional Potosí, and so that Di Lollo could run behind.
He made his debut 33 minutes into the second half, replacing Mauricio Benítez (20 years old), a central midfielder who also made his debut this year. He was positioned as a winger and was cautioned on the last play for committing a strong infraction.
Milton Delgado
He “pichón by Alan Varela” is category 2005 and his natural position is as a central midfielder, although he can move to the right. He is one of the great hopes of the xeneize club and that is why they gave him a contract until December 2028. Undisputed holder in the Reserve, had an outstanding job in the recent Libertadores Sub 20, where Boca fell in the final against Flamengo in Uruguay. He has a contract until December 2028 and his termination clause was not informed.
Due to his deployment and physical build, there are not a few who compare it with another midfielder emerged from the xeneize hotbed: Andrés Cubas. His debut occurred at the same time as Molas’: at 33 he joined for Norberto Briasco, to reinforce the midfield.
