Hugo Ibarra He took over on Thursday and on Friday he made his first big decision when stopping a team in training, thinking about this Saturday’s classic against San Lorenzo as a visitor, for the seventh date of the Professional League: pulled out Carlos Izquierdoz and put in his place Carlos Zambrano. And the change exploded like a bomb. Because of the specific weight of the footballer who is coming out of 11. Because of what he represents. Because he is the captain and undisputed reference. End of cycle?
This Friday at Olé we explained why this situation was reached and at night the defender himself came out to give his version on his Instagram account. In it he assured that he never had a problem with anyone in football and confessed that he decided to stay until December to win the Libertadores, something that will no longer happen because Boca was eliminated by Corinthians in the round of 16.
In any case, at the end of the post he slips that at the end of the year he could finish his cycle in Boca. “A pity that we were not given but I do not want to leave and that they think things that are not”, It is the closing of the statement, stating that he does not want matters to be discussed that he judges did not exist when he is already at the club.
Izquierdoz’s post
“In 15 years that I play football, I have never had a problem with anyone (except Mineiro). Don’t believe everything that is said. If I agreed to stay until December it was only because I wanted to win the cup and the same goes for my teammates. A pity that was not given to us but I do not want to leave and that they think things that are not”.
Left’s message.
The reasons for the departure of Izquierdoz
“Today we have a technical trident that makes its decisions and we are going to respect them a lot, as we did with Miguel Russo, who put his own line-ups, and also with our friend Sebastián”said Jorge Bermudezone of the members of the Football Council, after training this Friday.
Beyond the fact that the “formal” decision is made by Ibarra with Gracián and Herrón, Izquierdoz was targeted and at some point they were going to kill him. The DT unfortunately seems to fulfill the same role that Abel Alves fulfilled with him in 2010 and that he questioned so many times, accusing that he had been put in to clean “Palermo, Abbondanzieri and me.” But he would not be the first or the last passing coach who uses it to remove footballers that the leadership does not want…
Cali’s departure cannot be explained from football. He is surprising not only because of his leadership and commanding voice, but also because since he returned in record time from a broken toe, he has maintained a good level and improved the team’s defensive performance on the way to the Cup title. League, despite some weak games during this semester.
Days ago, in addition, Boca announced with great fanfare the continuity of Cali until December with an improvement in his contract, when he had the possibility of leaving the club due to an automatic termination clause in the middle of the year. “We are proud to have fixed the continuity of our captain until December”said the Patron at the time.
Despite this, the renewal until December and not beyond immediately led to the question whether Izquierdoz had not made the decision to leave the club in 2023, taking into account that several times in recent years he considered it as a possibility linked to a decision of life, also leaving the country (he experienced situations of insecurity) and returning to Mexican soccer, where he left friends and his family would like to return.
At the same time, Izquierdoz was singled out by Riquelme and the Council from day one, which became clear when Bermúdez introduced Zambrano and said that “Boca needs real defenders”. Then, Cali showed such a good level on the field that it distorted any preconception that the new leadership of football seemed to bring and it was impossible to displace him from his place in 11. But, of course, there were new crosses: the captain put his chest up and contracted this year when Román accused the players of being “innocent”.
The last episode took place in a series of spicy meetings in recent days, one of them the day before the rematch with Corinthians for the prizes due (championship and group stage) and also for future prizes. “Let’s see how you talk so much that they haven’t won anything important yet,” said a member of the Council to one of the referents. Izquierdoz was one of those who reacted and crossed them. The group even made the decision not to gather and later gave up due to a promise from the leaders.
The public response of the players was given in the harangue before going out to the Bombonera. “Yesterday they treated us like losers”said Benedetto with a camera on the back of his neck like never before in previous Libertadores matches. And the recipients heard it very clearly, despite the fact that at first it seemed that it was for the rival. But not. It was for the members of the Council.
“There was a lot of heat in the squad, because they still haven’t been paid the prizes for the championship and the first phase of the Cup. They bully them a lot,” They told Olé from inside the club.
Bermúdez, however, denied that Cali’s departure had anything to do with this short circuit. “They already said that we took him out, that there was a problem with the coaching staff, with the player… Carlos Izquierdoz, like the other teammates, is going to concentrate and the coach puts what he wants on the pitch. I don’t know where the versions come out “Let’s be clear, since the Football Council arrived in Boca, we are to blame for all the situations. Here what has happened is serious, respectful work, there was no meeting and no one was left out for that. They are speculations. The truth obeys very little to reality,” added El Patron on ESPN.
Although in the remaining months Izquierdoz’s situation may change and he can return to the team, what seems increasingly clear is what will happen to him at the end of the year. A strong gesture had already been seen after the elimination with Corinthians, unable to contain the tears, as if it were the final photo. And with this decision made by Ibarra with the endorsement of the Council, the end of the Cali cycle seems to be very close.
