The unusual offer from the president of Recoleta to Boca to play at La Bombonera: "We collaborate with gardeners"

One week before the clash between Boca and Deportivo Recoleta for the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, the uncertainty about the venue for the first leg gave rise to a curious proposal from Paraguay. Luis Vidal, president of the Paraguayan team, joked about sending help to recover the grass at the Bombonera to avoid the Xeneize having to change their home ground.

The possibility that the club from La Ribera might play its upcoming home matches at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium, due to the terrible condition of its own stadium, did not go unnoticed by Recoleta. Although the change could benefit them sportingly, Vidal made it clear what the club's desire is. "All my life, as I always say and declare, La Bombonera shakes, it beats, as they say. I heard it could be Huracán or Lanús. Even, it might be better for us in sports, but of course we want to play at La Bombonera", he assured in a conversation with journalist Emilio Nunia on SuperDeportivo Radio.

In a relaxed tone, the official went a step further and made a suggestion that quickly caught attention. "If necessary, we are available to help with some gardeners, with some seeds, with whatever it takes to get the field ready for the match", he expressed with laughter.

Beyond the venue, Vidal emphasized the importance of the series for an institution that is facing its first international experience. "We are going for everything, we are enjoying the moment, it’s like playing a World Cup, imagine for us. So we want the celebration to be complete", he stated.

In that vein, he compared the challenge of facing the Argentine team to the matches recently played by the Paraguayan national team in the World Cup. "For Recoleta, playing against Boca is like for Paraguay playing against Germany, France, or Argentina in a World Cup. It’s something very big. Boca has seven Copa Libertadores, I don’t know if four world titles, it’s one of the biggest in the continent, it beat Real Madrid", he affirmed.

He even considered that eliminating the Argentine team would be the greatest achievement in the club's history. "Imagine, the first time in history that we played an international tournament and eliminate a world champion, seven-time champion of America. That would be, honestly, even greater", he pointed out.

The president of Recoleta also revealed that he will take advantage of the visit to Buenos Aires to give a gift to Juan Román Riquelme. "Of course we have a present for the Boca management, especially for the president, who was a world football idol, a great reference for us, there are no tens like him anymore. We are going to prepare a gift, some Recoleta jersey with the number ten, with his name, for sure", he announced.

The series will begin on August 11 in Buenos Aires, with the stadium still to be confirmed, while the return leg will be played a week later at the Defensores del Chaco, the venue chosen by Recoleta to host Boca amid expectations of a turnout far exceeding the capacity of their usual field.