Merentiel Set to Gain Argentine Citizenship, Frees Up Foreign Slot at Boca

Miguel Merentiel is on track to receive Argentine citizenship, which will remove him from Boca Juniors’ list of foreign players. As reported by TyC Sports, the Uruguayan striker has completed the required paperwork, and the club expects final approval during the upcoming June transfer window—a timely boost ahead of a crucial stretch for the squad.

Current AFA rules limit teams to five foreign players on matchday rosters, and Boca had six. With Merentiel’s naturalization, the club will regain flexibility just as it prepares for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The 29-year-old forward, originally from Paysandú, joins Luis Advíncula and Frank Fabra as Boca players with Argentine nationality.

Incoming head coach Miguel Ángel Russo, who will take over after his stint at San Lorenzo, is already planning reinforcements. Boca aim to bring in three new signings—one per line: a central defender, a midfielder, and a winger. After an underwhelming first half of the year, the club is focused on strengthening a squad that must rise to meet international demands.