Milan’s Paredes pursuit depends on midfield departures, while Boca’s captain remains under contract until 2028 and wants to stay.
Leandro Paredes has rejected AC Milan’s approach and will stay at Boca Juniors, according to reports out of Argentina.
Milan figures contacted the midfielder directly to gauge his availability, proposing a fee to bring him back to Serie A.
Paredes thanked them for the interest but made clear he was happy at Boca and had no intention of leaving.
That closes the door, at least for now, on a pursuit that had been gathering pace over the past week.
Why Milan Wanted Leandro Paredes
Milan’s interest picked up steam after Paredes impressed at the 2026 World Cup, where the 32-year-old was a regular starter as Argentina reached the final.
That form appears to have put him back on Milan’s radar, with the club tabling what was described as a significant offer to Boca.
No financial details were disclosed, but multiple reports from Argentina and Italy agreed that Milan had taken concrete steps toward trying to bring him back to Serie A.
Paredes has experience in European football following spells at Roma and Paris Saint-Germain, along with a loan at Juventus.
His résumé also includes Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and a Copa América title, the kind of pedigree that made him an appealing target for Ruben Amorim’s rebuild.
Boca’s Leverage In The Paredes Situation
Paredes returned to Boca from Roma last summer for a fee reported at around €3m.
He remains under contract until the end of 2028 and serves as a senior figure in the squad, factors that gave Boca real leverage even before he made his own preference clear.
A departure was never going to be cheap or straightforward, and Paredes’ own decision has settled the matter for now regardless of what Milan were willing to pay.
Milan’s Midfield Still Needs Reshaping
Paredes’ rejection doesn’t remove the underlying issue that sent Milan looking at him in the first place.
Reports have linked Warren Bondo, Yunus Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Youssouf Fofana, Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci with potential exits this summer, whether by sale or loan.
Milan are believed to need that squad and budget space before they can complete any further midfield business.
Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Christian Comotto are viewed as more likely to remain part of Amorim’s plans.
What’s Next For Milan’s Midfield Rebuild
With Paredes out of the picture, Milan’s midfield search resets rather than ends.
The same outgoing questions around Bondo, Musah, Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, Jashari and Ricci remain unresolved.
Any movement on those departures will shape what Amorim can still do before the market closes, and who replaces the World Cup finalist Milan couldn’t convince to leave Boca.
