Lema and Saracchi, also out
The case of Cristian Lema is not surprising either, since even back in January, Russo had told him to look for a new club.
The head coach separated the three defenders and sent them to train outside the professional squad
The case of Cristian Lema is not surprising either, since even back in January, Russo had told him to look for a new club.
The internal situation at Boca continues to add chapters, and this Wednesday one of the most tense moments since Miguel Ángel Russo's return as coach was experienced. In the midst of a football and institutional crisis, the head coach decided to separate Marcos Rojo, Cristian Lema, and Marcelo Saracchi from the first team, who will now train separately.
The relationship between Russo and Rojo is at its worst. The former Xeneize captain, who still has a contract until December 2025, was removed from the group after a heated confrontation with the coaching staff on Tuesday in Ezeiza. According to ESPN, Rojo left before training, upset after being excluded from a meeting held exclusively for those drafted for the last match against Huracán.
The coach's response was drastic, as the next day he didn't allow him to change in the main locker room and sent him to train separately. Saracchi and Lema faced the same fate, two other players who are not in the coach's plans.
What is happening with Rojo is not an isolated incident. Since the Club World Cup, where he didn't play any minutes and was replaced by Ayrton Costa, his relationship with Russo has been deteriorating. On top of that, there have been injuries, a lack of playing time, and a sense of wear and tear. In fact, he hasn't played an official match since May 10, in the penalty shootout win against Lanús with Mariano Herrón as interim coach.
Estudiantes de La Plata showed interest in bringing him back, but negotiations are stalled. Boca is seeking a formal offer to terminate his contract early, something that hasn't happened yet.
However, the defender stayed and is now definitively sidelined. He also hasn't played since October of last year, when he was injured against Deportivo Riestra.
Meanwhile, Saracchi was close to joining Independiente. Boca even sent the paperwork to loan him, but Russo opted for other names and ruled out the deal.
The former River player had very few minutes in the last semester and his last appearance was in the Club World Cup against Bayern Munich.