The Argentine football league had two major stars return to their boyhood clubs this past transfer window. Ángel Di María and Leandro Paredes made their way back to Rosario Central and Boca Juniors, respectively, looking to wrap up their careers at the place where it all started.

The moves sent ripples through Argentine football, with Di María’s return in particular becoming the catalyst for the return of away fans after 12 years. But while both players are now among the biggest stars in the Primera Division, their performances so far have gone very differently.

Boca out of Copa Argentina with Paredes debuting as a starter

After coming on as a substitute on July 18 at La Bombonera, Leandro Paredes was expected to make his full debut as a starter on Wednesday, as Boca faced off against Atlético Tucuman for the Copa Argentina.

In a packed Madre de Ciudades stadium in Santiago del Estero province, the stage was set for a dream game for the former AS Roma and PSG man, but it was not to be. The Xeneize lost 2-1 in the round of 32 and was eliminated from the 2025 Copa Argentina, extending a 95-day winless streak since April 19.

It wasn’t the best performance by Paredes either. Just four minutes in, he could’ve been sent off after he mistimed an interception and stepped on striker Mateo Coronel’s ankle, spurring the anger of the Atlético Tucuman fans and players. Minutes later, Coronel returned the favor with a harsh tackle that had Paredes grabbing his ankle on the ground.

As the minutes progressed, he stepped further and further forward on the pitch, looking to see more of the ball and control the tempo of the game. Unfortunately, he was also involved in Atlético Tucumán’s opener, as he was overpowered by a rival as the ball fell into the box off a corner that was scored by defender Clever Ferreira.

“There was a foul on Paredes in the first goal,” head coach Miguel Ángel Russo said after the game. “There were good moments; I’ll stick with those. If they blew the foul, it could’ve been different.”

Boca is now 10 games without a win, a streak that ties their worst-ever performances in 1957 and 2021. The team will look to break the dead spell on Sunday as they visit Huracán for the 2025 Torneo Clausura.

Di María flying high

Things have been very different for Ángel Di María. El Fideo, as he’s affectionately known, has had a much smoother transition into club football in Argentina, having announced his return nearly two months ago. Since then, he’s been featured twice, both times as a starter.

Di María’s debut came at home in Rosario, at Rosario Central’s Gigante de Arroyito stadium, on July 12. It proved a very special moment for the World Cup winner, as the packed stadium burst into cheers as he stepped onto the field to warm up and Di María could not hold back the tears.

The former PSG and Benfica man scored the opener via a penalty in the 78th minute. The goal, however, was not enough to take the win, as Godoy Cruz scored a 96th-minute equalizer with ten men. 

It wasn’t all joy, as Di María had to be subbed off in the 89th minute due to a harsh foul from a rival but seemed all right after the game.

“I think we had a good game,” he said after his debut. “We had a lot of chances in the first half but couldn’t score, and then we couldn’t hold on to it after we did.”

“I’m happy and calm [about returning to Argentina],” he added. “The part I don’t like so much is having to talk so much, but [playing in front of the fans] is a lot more enjoyable and beautiful.”

The team’s first win with Di María on the squad came just a week later, as Rosario Central beat Lanús 1-0 through a goal scored by El Fideo. It proved another packed stadium, with the return of away fans for the first time in 12 years. 

In a single play, Di María showed his smarts and class. First, he baited referee Andrés Merlos into sending off rival defender Carlos Izquierdoz after he had given a penalty for Rosario Central. Standing next to Merlos as Izquierdoz asked the judge “not to rob them like last time,” Di María gave the referee a smirk that seemed to seal the defender’s fate. Then, he stepped up and converted the penalty to give the team the lead and the win. 

It did little to ruin his reputation in front of the home Lanús fans, who still cheered him on as the game ended.

“For so many years I tried to win a title with the Argentine national team for this,” he said after the game. “I’m thankful to the Lanús fans; they cheered me on every time I took a corner kick.”

He’ll get plenty of cheers next time Rosario Central plays, as they host San Martín (San Juan) in Rosario on Saturday.

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