Trabzonspor has initiated a move to sign Argentine Leandro Paredes, Boca Juniors’ captain, making him the latest global name nominated to partner Mohamed Salah at the Turkish club for the upcoming season.
According to Haber61, Trabzonspor’s management has officially inquired about the deal’s conditions at the request of manager Fatih Tekke. This comes as the 32-year-old midfielder has become more open to a Turkish Super Lig move compared to his previous stance.
Boca Juniors’ Demands and Paredes’ Salary
Boca Juniors has requested around €10 million to approve their captain’s departure, capitalizing on his contract running until December 31, 2028, even though his current market value is estimated at €5 million.
Meanwhile, Paredes expects an annual package between €6 and €7 million, including salary, signing bonus, and incentives. This financial cost remains the biggest hurdle to his Trabzonspor transfer.
The Turkish club plans to rely on sponsor support and installment payments to finalize the deal. However, they have listed 21-year-old Boca midfielder Milton Delgado as a potential alternative if an agreement for Paredes cannot be reached.
The Argentine international plays regularly for Boca and hasn’t recently suffered from any injuries. He played 90 minutes in a recent 1-1 draw with Velez Sarsfield, bringing his domestic season tally to 18 matches, where he scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists.
From World Cup Rivals to Potential Teammates
The last appearance featuring Mohamed Salah and Paredes together was one of the most thrilling matches of the 2026 World Cup. Both started in the Round of 16 clash between Egypt and Argentina, which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Tango Dancers in Atlanta.
Egypt took the lead through Yasser Ibrahim in the 15th minute, and Mostafa Shobeir saved a Lionel Messi penalty, before Mostafa Zico added a second goal in the 67th minute following an attack initiated by Salah.
Argentina turned the game around in the final minutes: Cristian Romero scored in the 79th minute, Messi equalized four minutes later, and Enzo Fernandez netted the winning goal in stoppage time.
Paredes played a crucial role when the score was 2-2, intercepting Omar Marmoush’s pass during an Egyptian counter-attack that nearly gave the Pharaohs a third goal. About 90 seconds later, the winning Argentine attack began following a collision between Julian Alvarez and Salah inside the box—a moment where Egypt demanded a penalty—before the sequence concluded with Fernandez’s goal.
Leandro Paredes’ Career
Paredes graduated from Boca’s academy and debuted with the first team at sixteen. He then moved to Europe, representing Chievo Verona, AS Roma, Empoli, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, before returning to Roma and eventually Boca in the summer of 2025.
The midfielder won the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America titles (2021 and 2024), and the Finalissima with Argentina. He also claimed several league and cup titles in France, won the Russian Premier League, and played with PSG in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final.
Salah Boosts the Turkish League’s Appeal
Mohamed Salah’s transfer to Trabzonspor has significantly elevated global interest in the club and the Turkish Super Lig. This has given the management an extra card when negotiating with big-name players. The Turkish destination is no longer solely tied to lucrative financial offers but to a sporting project featuring one of football’s biggest stars of the last decade.
Salah’s impact comes amid a highly active summer for Turkish giants. Galatasaray signed Frenchman Lesley Ugochukwu on loan from Burnley for £3 million with a conditional £22.5 million buy option, while Besiktas bolstered their squad with Leandro Trossard, Alexander Nübel, Salih Özcan, and Kassoum Ouattara.
These moves reveal the Turkish league’s growing ability to attract players from top European leagues. Trabzonspor hopes to leverage the momentum created by the Salah deal to convince Paredes to experience his first career stint outside Argentina, Italy, France, and Russia.
