Martin Palermo: End of an Era
today, Martin Palermo retired from football. He was a great servant to Boca, but niggling injuries stopped him from playing many games last season.
How ever, he will always have a place in Boca hearts.
On July 13, 2004, after 3 and a half years of playing in Spain for 3 different teams (Villarreal, Real Betis, and Alavés), Palermo returned to Boca Juniors.[Later that year on December 17, Martín scored his 100th goal with Boca on the final of the 2004 Copa Sudamericana a 2–0 victory over Bolívar.
Palermo once again back in top form kept himself placed among the best scorers in the Argentine league, scoring 11 goals in three consecutive tournaments (2006 Clausura, 2006 Apertura and top scorer of the 2007 Clausura). During the 2007 Clausura tournament he had several memorable moments, the first of which came on February 25, when he scored a half pitch goal in the dying seconds of a 3–1 victory over Independiente, a couple of weeks later on March 10 he scored three goals against his former team Estudiantes in a 3–1 Boca victory at La Plata, and he didn't celebrate any of them. It was the fourth hat-trick of his career. A game later, on March 18, he scored a career high of four goals in the 5–1 victory against Gimnasia de la Plata, Estudiantes de La Plata's archi-rivals.
The following season the 2007 Apertura, he continued to be among the Argentine league top scorers with 13 goals. His best game that season came on September 16, in a game against Banfield, in which Martín scored four goals, in the 6–0 Boca victory.
Palermo scored his fifth career hat-trick in a 3–0 Boca Juniors victory, this was a must win game that was played in Jalisco, Mexico, against Atlas on May 21, 2008.
Palermo during the 2008 Joan Gamper Trophy match
At the beginning of the 2008 Apertura, on August 24 he suffered yet another serious injury, this time he injured his anterior cruciate and tore his medial collateral ligament during the 2–1 victory against Lanús, with an expected recovery period of 5 to 8 months. After this was known, the Argentine coach at that time, Alfio Basile commented that he had chosen him to play for the national team for the following match in the World Cup qualifiers
Palermo's first goal since his injury came on his fourth game back, during a 3–1 victory over Huracán on March 1 in the 2009 Clausura, this was Martín Palermo's 195 goal with Boca Juniors, breaking Francisco Varallo record of 194 goals in the professional era. Almost two months after on April 30, Martín scored a bicycle kick goal, which gave him 200 goals with Boca Juniors, in a 3–0 victory against Deportivo Táchira.
During the 2009 Apertura, on October 4 in a game against Vélez Sársfield, Martín Palermo scored a very special goal (a header that traveled around 38.9 meters), this goal gave him 200 goals in the Argentine First Division and also gave Boca a 3–2 victory.
On July 22, 2010, with 36 years of age, Palermo announced that he had renewed his contract with Boca Juniors for one year and that he will retire at the end of the contract.
Martín Palermo scored his sixth career hat-trick on September 19, 2010 in a 3–1 Boca victory over Colón.
On December 13, 2010, Palermo scored his 300th career goal in the final match of the 2010 Apertura in a 1–1 draw against Gimnasia de La Plata.
---------- Post added at 03:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:15 AM ----------
Summer Transfers
Players in
Jo and Roque Santa Cruz, unwanted at Manchester City, Join Boca for a joint fee, close to £4 Million
Maxi Rodriguez has joined from Liverpool, for 2.1 Million pound
Diego Barreto joins from Cerro Porteno for an initial 800K
Daria Conca leaves Fluminense, and Joins Boca for 3.1 Million
Sau Paulo 15 year old will join Boca when he turns 18, as will 15 year old Cicero,
Sau Paulo 17 year old, Lucas Piazon also joins the club, this time in 2012.
and Vascos young talent, Ricardinho joins up with his new squad on his 18th Birthday
Players Out
Joaguin Rodriguez joined Estudiantes for 50K, whilst Enzo and Luis left Boca on a free
Franco Mazurek joines banfield, D'Angelo joins Instituto, both for 40K
Aguirre has joined Premiership new boys Belgrano on loan whilst Gimnasia LP sign Ayala for 50K
Barcelona snap up Gimenez for a hefty 9.4 Million, and Escudero Joins Barca for an estimated 12 Million.
Inter Milan sign Javier Garcia, for an Initial 5.2 Million, wilst Roncaglia joing Rel Madrid for 3.6 Million
Olimpo fork out 45K for Scapparoni
---------- Post added at 04:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:40 PM ----------
PSV Eindhoven 4 - 1 Boca Juniors
Orlanda Engelaar (22, 46, Pen 62), Insaurralde Own Goal (85)
Santa Cruz (8), Sauro Sent Off (60)
Boca started their pre season tour of Holland in Eindhoven. And Boca were off to a flying start, with Santa Cruz scoring a brilliant goal on 8 minutes.
But Boca began to tire, as they'd only been training for a week and on 22 minutes, PSV equalised.
It was down hill from there, because after the break, Engelaar scored his second goal putting the hosts 2-1 up. Substitute and promising youngster, Sauro, was sent off for bringing Wuytens down in the box, Engelaar putting the resulting penalty away, securing his hat trick.
Boca were tired and Insaurralde headed the ball into his own net to complete PSV's 4-1 win
Mr Drezzy was obviously upset at the defeat, but the boys didn't have their fitness. This tour wasn't about results, it was about getting fit. But Mr Drezzy should be worried about his new strikers, whop didn't have a good game. The gap left by Tevez and Aguero would be hard to fill
---------- Post added at 04:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 PM ----------
Tevez: I can't settle, i want to go home
Around this time last year, Boca secured the loan signing of Tevez. Manchester City thought this would settle him and it looked like it did.
Tevez has been back in Manchester for a couple of months now and has again declared he is unhappy, and wants to leave.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are said to be interested, but Tevez would ideally like a move back to Argentina. How ever, Boca would love the want away striker back, and reports are suggesting they could match Manchester City's £12 million asking price, how ever, The players wages would be a stumbling block.
---------- Post added at 04:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------
FC Eindhoven 0 - 2 Boca Juniors
Jo (32, 52)
Next up, Boca took to the field against PSV's unfancied neighbours, FC Eindhoven. But the talking points of this match wont be Jo's two goals either side of half time, it was the fact that Pablo Piatti played in goal, and played really well.
Both Boca keepers were away with the National team, so Piatti stepped in and took the gloves. But it didn't matter, because FC Eindhoven were poor and Boca walked away with the win
Mr Drezzy must be happy with the result, players were out of position and they still managed to play well, and not concede.
---------- Post added at 04:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:14 PM ----------
Lucas Barrios signs for 12 Million
Today, Boca Juniors signed Argentine striker Lucas Barrios from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £12 Million pounds.
With this signing, Boca surely must have pulled out of any move for Boca legend, Carlos Tevez