José Pekerman confirmed he was tempted to coach Boca: "I listened but we didn't make progress"

José Pekerman, the historic coach of the Argentine national youth teams and Colombia, reappeared before the cameras this Tuesday and recalled the dialogue he had with the management of Boca Juniors to coach them: "At the time, Boca asked. We didn't make any progress but there were talks, I listened but we didn't advance," he stated. The last time the 76-year-old coach donned his jacket was in 2022, when he was coaching the Venezuelan national team. After failing to qualify for Qatar 2022, he decided to step down until today, when he still has not returned to the profession by his own choice. Furthermore, Pekerman confessed that he did not have the opportunity to speak with Juan Román Riquelme during that call. "I haven't spoken to Román in a long time. For a case like this, Román would never take a commitment like calling me. At most, he would send a message on his behalf," he concluded on Buen Día ESPN. Pekerman and his devotion to Quintero ------------------------------------------------------------ One of the stories in this transfer market in Argentine football was Juanfer Quintero's decision to leave River, after Eduardo Coudet did not consider him during the first half of the year. In this regard, Pekerman shared his opinion. "He knows him, he has him training and knows how he plays, he has to understand it. One knows his football potential and knows his deficits. The deficit part is a problem of his that perhaps he has never overcome in many years. And that is a problem," he assured. The Colombian, who has always stood out for his devotion to the institution of Núñez, is also admired by Pekerman, who dedicated some heartfelt words to him. "I can talk a lot about Juanfer. The key is to ask: Can I find another like him? It's very difficult," stated the former coach of the Colombian national team. During his time with the Cafeteros, from January 2012 to September 2018, the Argentine led them to play in two consecutive World Cups: Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. Their best result came in South America, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the host nation, marking their best historical result in that competition. Additionally, Quintero scored his first World Cup goal in that tournament against Ivory Coast. He also revealed that for him to be called up for the 2018 tournament, it was crucial for Millonario to acquire his pass. "When he went to River, it showed what was happening with him. He knew that to come to the national team, he had to have something different. I wasn't satisfied with him being in Europe." Pekerman and Messi's debut in the Argentine National Team ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The native of Entre Ríos took charge of the Albiceleste between 2004 and 2006. His first stint was in the youth divisions, from 1995 to 2001, where he won three U-20 World Cups: Qatar 1995, Malaysia 1997, and Argentina 2001. Once in the senior team, he succeeded Marcelo Bielsa and left the position after the elimination in the Germany World Cup. In that tournament, he made Lionel Messi debut, and over the years, it became one of the reasons for him to achieve the record for the most World Cups played. In the elimination against the host nation in the quarter-finals, he revealed why he did not put the Rosario native on the field. "When they ask me why he didn't come on against Germany, with 16 minutes left, why don't they ask me why Saviola didn't come on, who was outstanding in the first matches? Why didn't Aimar come on, whom I couldn't put in?" he questioned. On the other hand, he explained that it was essential for that to be Messi's first World Cup. "For me, it was indispensable for Messi to play in his first World Cup. It happened to him in the U-20, where it was hard for him to get in because he didn't play all the matches in the South American tournament," he concluded. This refers to the need for him to gain experience to reach the confidence he had at Barcelona, and to do so with the light blue and white jersey.

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