“It can’t be that they all beat you up”Dario Benedetto yelled. “You get into your business and score a goal”he answered furious Carlos Zambrano. According to the reconstruction of the newspaper “La Nación”, that brief exchange of words was the fire on the gunpowder that ended up turning the sleeve that connected the Cilindro de Avellaneda field with the ‘Xeneize’ changing room into a Ring de Boxeo and dynamiting the “Mundo Boca”.
It all happened at halftime goalless draw between Boca Juniors and Racing Club for date 13 of the Professional League. The Peruvian center-back and the Argentine striker went to blows to the point of having to be separated by their own teammates and by security agents located in that sector. Minutes before, still on the playing field, Pipa brought everyone together and challenged them: “If we’re looking at the ball when the centers throw it, they’re going to score a stupid goal for us. Take marks!”. A harangue that seemed more like a complaint once morest the defenders; Zambrano, one of them.
There were still 45 minutes left, but the networks exploded. It no longer mattered if Racing-Boca had emotions in the game. Carlos went out onto the field to face the second half with a swollen left cheekbone and Darío had a scratch on his neck, a swollen lip and a red nose. Was it necessary to show that image to the world following what happened? The recommended thing would have been for them to be changed, but the technical team led by Hugo Ibarra did not consider it that way and sent them to the field once more.
“In Boca, unfortunately, things are not going well from any point of view. Neither the institutional, football or managerial. Everything is being mishandled.”tells us from Argentina, Emiliano Nunia, renowned journalist from Super Deportivo Radio for Villa Trinidad.
“There was an argument at halftime, nothing more than that. I have no idea why.”was the first thing Ibarra said at the end of the meeting. “I don’t know if Zambrano’s blow was because of that. I know there was an argument and nothing more. He played 90 minutes and might also have suffered a blow in the match. I am not worried regarding these situations. To improve, there must be discussions”he added.
“They disrespected the history of the club. They are not boxers but soccer players. They are looking to be insulted throughout La Bombonera”Juan Román Riquelme showed his annoyance. According to “ESPN”, when the idol and vice president of the ‘Xeneize’ institution went to the campus concentration around 1 am to talk with both of them, the Peruvian told him that he had already talked with Benedetto and the problem had been left there. . In fact, according to “La Nación”, both soccer players apologized to their teammates in the locker room.
Yesterday, Monday, the ‘Xeneize’ squad trained and there were no major developments regarding the Zambrano-Benedetto case. They worked normally with a view to this Wednesday’s game once morest Rosario Central at La Bombonera. What is not yet known is if the coach will have them for the match.
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Zambrano, one more line…
The ‘León’ had already experienced two controversial episodes since he arrived at Boca Juniors. The first was when he almost went to blows once morest Cristian Pavón. What happened? The Argentine right winger left the field in a match upset and threw a bottle of water into the ‘Xeneize’ substitute bench. The liquid splashed on Zambrano, who angrily protested. Only the intervention of his teammates prevented the Peruvian and the Argentine from fighting.
On another occasion, Zambrano might not bear that Franco Troyansky, player of Unión de Santa Fe, dedicated his team’s winning goal to ‘La 12’, the official supporter of Boca Juniors. At the end of the game, the central defender attacked his rival and caused both teams to face each other in front of the television cameras.
The third episode of Zambrano He lived it last Sunday night once morest ‘Pipa’, who demanded greater commitment from his teammates once morest Racing. The ‘León’, who received 4 rating points from Diario Olé, came out in front to curb the striker’s criticism. Curiosity is worth it, Benedetto has the word “loyalty” tattooed on his head, the same one that the ‘Lion’ removed using it as a punching bag.
When does your contract with Boca end and what are your chances of playing for Alianza?
In February 2020, Carlos Zambrano he became a new Boca Juniors player. Beyond his little continuity at that time, his arrival caused great expectation for what he had shown with the Peruvian team. And he signed a contract for three years; that is, until the end of 2022.
‘León’ ends its link with ‘Xeneize’ this year and, according to what various journalists who cover the club mention to us, everything indicates that it will not continue. In fact, several footballers are expected to leave so that 2023 begins with an almost total reconstruction of the squad.
“I am one step away from retirement. At the football level it is complicated. My family tells me ‘no, you have more’. But there comes a time when the body asks you to stop, to rest”. Carlos Zambrano had surprised everyone in May when his statements went viral. However, the central then came out to clarify his situation and commented on his desire to return to Peruvian football.
“I still have in my head to play in a team from Peru. (…) I would like to play in my country, a couple of years play in Alianza or in Cantolao, because I started there, if it stays in first. It is the dream that I still have to live”had commented on another occasion.
In fact, different sources confirmed to Trade that the club that is talked regarding around La Bombonera and that links to ‘León’ is Alianza Lima. The blue and white cast would have in mind to reinforce their defense for 2023 with Zambrano.
