The name Paulo Dybala is once again echoing around Boca Juniors. In the middle of the club’s excitement after advancing to the semifinals of the Torneo Clausura and with an eye on the 2026 Copa Libertadores, Boca is once again surrounded by rumors about a possible return of the World Cup champion to Argentine football. This time, the spark came from a comment made within the close circle of Leandro Paredes, Dybala’s friend and teammate.

A hint from Paredes’ father and the Xeneize dream

Before Boca’s recent win over Argentinos Juniors, Daniel Paredes, father of the midfielder, fanned the flames once again. When asked about the possibility of seeing Dybala wearing the blue and gold, he answered with a phrase that spread quickly across the Boca community: “All in due time.”

The comment didn’t go unnoticed, especially since it wasn’t the first time he spoke along those lines. Weeks earlier, he had been even more direct, stating that Dybala “has Boca in his heart” and that in a private conversation he had expressed his desire to play at La Bombonera. He even went as far as to say that Paulo and Oriana Sabatini’s future daughter will be a Boca fan and will watch her father debut there.

Excitement among supporters grew, although the club maintains caution. Internal reports suggest that Juan Román Riquelme is prioritizing the signing of a striker for next season, but Dybala’s contractual situation —under contract with AS Roma until mid-2026— makes any immediate move unrealistic.

A realistic scenario only after July 2026

While fans let their imagination run wild, reality points to a more distant possibility. A signing of this magnitude seems unlikely before July 2026, when Dybala’s contract with Roma expires and he could negotiate as a free agent. That would be the ideal context for Boca to move seriously, coinciding with the decisive stages of the Libertadores, where Boca expects to reach the round of 16.

For his part, Leandro Paredes tried to cool down the excitement, recalling that similar comments from his father in the past also involved him and created expectations that took a long time to materialize. “These are personal decisions. I hope he’s calm and chooses what’s best for his career,” he said, making it clear he doesn’t want to pressure his friend.

Dybala has always acknowledged having a soft spot for Boca as a child, although he has also mentioned that his partner is a River Plate supporter, a detail fans have taken with humor. After spells with Instituto, Palermo, Juventus, and now Roma, the forward has never played in Argentina’s top division —a detail that keeps alive the dream of a historic debut in his home country.