Overview
- Serna publicly backed Juan Román Riquelme and the club’s institutional stance, arguing Boca cannot allow players to leave on free transfers.
- He challenged Lema’s professionalism and effort, saying places in the team are earned through internal competition.
- Lema said he requested to exit in June 2025 with six months left on his deal and was told on deadline day he could depart only if he had a club lined up.
- The retired defender also described limited day-to-day contact with Riquelme and pointed to mental fatigue when explaining his decision to quit playing.
- Addressing fresh speculation, Serna called talk of a Sebastián Villa return mere rumor and said fans would reproach the winger’s past flirtation with River.