Boca Juniors: an Argentine club filled with Colombian essence

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With the arrival of midfielder Jorman Campuzano, the Argentinean team opts for Colombian players

31 years ago, Walter Perazzo, a Colombian player of Argentine origin began the history of Colombian players wearing Boca Junior’s jersey. Today, the young midfielder Jorman Campuzano is the player number 18 who joins this important South American team, after the payment of the clause of rescission that made Boca Juniors to Atletico Nacional for four million dollars.

Leer en español: Boca Juniors: un club argentino con sello colombiano

In fact, in the history of the two most important Argentine clubs, including River Plate, there are more Colombian players who have been more notable than the ones who don’t, reports Caracol Radio. The same radio station adds that Boca Juniors exceeds River Plate in Colombian players, 18 to 14.

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A long and productive history

The Goal.com web portal does a complete review for each one of these players, and in LatinAmerican Post, we are going to mention them all, highlighting the most successful. Perazzo was the first one. His parents were Argentinean but he was born in Colombia (his father played in Santa Fe), he had the opportunity to reinforce Boca Juniors between 1988 and 1990.

Another Colombian nationalized in Argentina was Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya "El Mono" who defended the 'Xeneize' football goal from 1988 to 1996. A player who was not very noticeable was, John Jairo Tréllez.

The most successful era for the Colombians was at the end of the nineties and the beginning of the new century. At that moment, goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba and defender Jorge Bermúdez arrived. A year later another defender arrived: Mauricio 'Chicho' Serna. The trio played from 1997 to 2002 winning three domestic leagues, two Libertadores Cup and an Intercontinental Cup against Real Madrid.

Then Arley Dinas arrived and he didn’t was as outstanding as other Colombian players. In 2003, Amarea Perea arrived and in just one season he won an Intercontinental Cup. Then, it was Fabián Vargas turn, he played in two different seasons: from 2003 to 2006 and from 2007 to 2009. In both stages, Vargas was crowned champion four times in the local league, plus two South American Cups, two South American Recopas and one Intercontinental Cup.

A very fleeting step had Gerardo Bedoya, who reinforced the 'Xeneizes' for the 2005 Libertadores Cup. The result was that he didn’t win it, nor did Freddy Guarín (he was quickly sold to Saint Etienne), nor Breiner Bonilla. There was a pause in which the streak of Colombians at Boca Juniors looked like it was going to end until 2016.

Since then and immediately one after the other, arrived at the Xeneizes Frank Fabra, Sebastián Pérez (who has fared worse due to injuries), Wilmar Barrios, Edwin Cardona, and Sebastian Villa. This group won two Leagues (except Perez, who was only on the payroll of the 2017 title). Of the current runners-up in the Libertadores Cup, only Barrios and Villa had a leading role, as Cardona was little taken into account and was also injured, neither was Fabra.

The number 18

The player number 18 is Jorman Campuzano, who a few days ago arrived in Argentina, where he presented the medical examinations and was introduced as a new player of Boca Juniors for 2019. As expected, the 22-year-old midfielder admitted that this is the most important step of his career, after an excellent year under the command of Jorge Almirón at Atlético Nacional. His quality as a trademark, also allowed him to have his first call from the National Team of Colombia, said Futbolete.

His first statements were: "I come from the biggest team in Colombia and I'm the biggest in Argentina", and later he assured that one of his main goals will be to win the Copa Libertadores, the one with which they were so close to raising in the last 2018.

Futbolete finished by informing that Campuzano could share functions in that first line with Iván Marcone, who arrives from Cruz Azul. What is said is that the arrival of these two will surely be to alleviate Barrios exit, who would play in Europe. Paraguayan defender Junior Alonso also arrived.

Libero of Peru published the statement issued by the Colombian team in relation to Campuzanos departure. "Atlético Nacional informs that we have been notified by the Boca Juniors Club of the intention of incorporating Jorman David Campuzano Puentes into their squad by paying the termination clause in his contract of employment. Campuzano told the director of the Institution, his desire to leave and accept the proposal that allows his incorporation to Boca Juniors".

Boca Juniors new coach, Gustavo Alfaro, also had words to describe the work of the Colombian midfielder. "In my ideal team I always want to have two pause phases, one half court back, and there has to be a player who will join the two bands, there is nothing faster than the pass, Campuzano can give me that.", sentenced in a press conference replicated by the Peruvian media.

LatinAmerican Post | Onofre Zambrano

Translated from: 'Boca Juniors: un club argentino con sello colombiano'