According to reports, the decision was made following the defeat in the Superclásico against River Plate at the Monumental Stadium. Gago, who had been under pressure since Boca’s elimination from the Copa Libertadores against Alianza Lima, failed to retain his position despite a strong performance in the Apertura tournament (Argentine League).

Riquelme informed Gago of the decision this morning before training began. Mauricio Serna, a member of the sports management team, told reporters: “Fernando Gago has collaborated with the club until now. This decision was made calmly, though it was not easy, as he is part of the Boca family. But we are here to make such decisions.”

Gago had previously suffered defeats in the Argentine Cup semifinal against Vélez Sarsfield and in the second round of the Libertadores against Alianza Lima, both of which increased pressure on him.

In the Superclásico, he unexpectedly used a 2-5-3 formation, a system he had only employed once in the last 30 matches—against Lanús—which also ended in defeat. Gago explained after the match that this tactic was designed to better utilize the abilities of some players, but due to the absence of key figures like Milton Giménez and Edinson Cavani, the team failed to break down River Plate’s defense. This tactical decision and his inability to manage the game led to further criticism.

Despite securing nine wins in the last 10 league matches, the Superclásico defeat highlighted Gago’s inability to meet Boca Juniors’ high expectations in crucial matches. This dismissal sends a clear message from Riquelme that Boca Juniors aims to return to its glory days and compete for titles, with no tolerance for failure in key competitions.