Independiente brought the defender closer to Xeneize and Vasco stated his position on his possible arrival
Beyond the economic issue, the main reason to halt the operation was football-related. Arruabarrena wants to bring in a center-back who can become a reference for the back line, provide quality, and elevate the performance of his teammates. For those characteristics, he believes that Lomónaco does not fit the idea he has to strengthen the defense.
The defender, who has a contract with Independiente until December 2028 and had already been sought by Boca in 2025, is also going through an irregular moment in terms of performance. His performance has declined in recent months and there is concern in Avellaneda about a possible loss of value, which is why the management is considering the possibility of completing a sale in this market.
For Boca, the need to look for a center-back again will largely depend on what happens with Di Lollo. The young player is closely followed by Benfica and a potential departure could force the club to reconsider its position and look for an alternative before the market closes.
Xeneize had already had other names on the table for that position. Jhohan Romaña was one of the first options, although he ultimately left for León in Mexico, while the names of Santiago Núñez from Estudiantes and Ignacio Ovando from Rosario Central also emerged. For now, the management maintains that the squad is complete and does not plan to make another signing.
Since his arrival in mid-2024, the defender from La Plata has played 7,307 minutes wearing the Rojo jersey, distributed over 87 matches, in which he scored 2 goals, provided 2 assists, and received 12 yellow cards and 1 direct red card.
Boca is going through the final days of the transfer market with the intention of maintaining a balanced squad that still has some questions to resolve. The defense is one of the areas that attracts the most attention, especially given the possibility that Lautaro Di Lollo could leave the club if Benfica's interest progresses. In that scenario, an alternative has emerged from Avellaneda, although it has not fully convinced Rodolfo Arruabarrena.
According to reports, in recent hours, Kevin Lomónaco, a defender from Independiente, was offered to Xeneize as a possibility to strengthen the defense, but the coach believes that his characteristics do not match the profile he is looking for in that position.
The offer had a particularity: it did not come from the player's environment or his representation, but rather it was Independiente itself that brought the possibility of negotiating for the 24-year-old center-back. The Avellaneda club's initial stance had been to avoid a transfer within Argentine football, but due to the lack of progress in some international negotiations, the situation changed.
For its part, Boca evaluated the conditions of a potential operation. From Xeneize, they offered 3 million dollars for 50% of the transfer, while Independiente was asking for a figure close to 7 million for the entire player. The conversations, however, did not advance and those from Avellaneda are confident in finding a higher proposal, even with interest from clubs in Mexico and Spain.
