the video of Boca’s rival for the Argentine Cup with a message from Pupi Zanetti included

Boca Juniors will have its official debut in 2025 on January 22, when it faces the first round of the Argentine Cup a Argentinian from Monte Maíza team from the interior of Córdoba that has been active in Federal A since it was promoted there three years ago. Maybe for him Xeneize be one more match on your busy calendar, which includes Copa Libertadores y Club World Cupbut for El Raya it translates into something historic.

So much so that the institution’s social networks have made reference to it on repeated occasions, either to announce the size of the cross or to joke about it, including a humorous post on the eve of the arrival of Ander Herrera to La Ribera. In the last few hours, however, they uploaded a more than special material: a emotional video telling about his sense of belonging to the people.

“Argentine, Half +1 of Monte Maíz. ‘Pupi’ Zanetti says it, the ‘Half +1 of the country’ vs. ‘Half +1 of Monte Maíz’, and the one who wins is football…”, reads the post in its header. It begins with an open plan of the Modesto Marrone Stadium, which closes around a figure found in the central circle: Modesto Marrone himself, former president of the entity. “They say that Boca are La Mitad + 1 of the country, but… And what about us?” the man asks.

“In the field, even in the neighborhood,” continues the protagonist, while images of a person operating machinery and children wearing the club’s shirt are superimposed. “In Monte Maíz, we all play,” says the first of them. “In the workshop, to the offices. From the pharmacy, to the Supermarket. From the Mutual, to the property,” Marrone continues, showing people working with some detail alluding to Argentino de Monte Maíz. “From wherever, but We are La Mitad + 1 of Monte Maíz. We are a small town, but in football, we play like greats,” he adds.

Whoever speaks later is himself Javier Zanetti. “This is simple, La Mitad + 1 of the country faces off against La Mitad + 1 of Monte Maíz. And the one who wins is football. Enjoy,” says the Dollssmiling and with a thumbs up. “See you on the field, Boca,” concludes Modesto Marrone.

Argentino de Monte Maíz began training on Monday, January 13 ahead of the game against Boca. They have worked every day since then, focusing fully on the clash against Xeneize, starting at 6:00 p.m. and at the sports complex. On the 21st they will travel to Santa Feto carry out the corresponding reconnaissance of the playing field and complete their preparation there.

They have added, for now, four new faces. Initially, the club announced the arrivals of Matías Barbero and Dino Oliva. The first of them had already been in the institution during 2023 and arrived from Defensores de Belgrano. The defender signed until December 31, 2025 and has an extensive career, which includes Sportivo Belgrano of San Francisco; Douglas Haig from Pergamino and Central Norte de Salta, among others.

The other is a goalkeeper, with an identical contractual relationship to the defender. At 32 years old, he arrives from Sarmiento de Etruria, finalist in the Closing Tournament of the Beccar Varela League (to which Raya also belongs). In addition to that experience, he was also part of General Paz Juniors (from La Docta) and Club Bell (Bell Ville). It should be noted that the team already has Alexis Bonet between the three sticks, so Oliva could arrive to replace him if necessary.

A few days later, they made the arrival of two more reinforcements official: Edgardo Díaz and Joaquín Bassania left back and a creative midfielder respectively. The defender from San Juan is 36 years old and arrived from Club Ciudad de Bolívar, which will be River Plate’s rival in the competition that will be in its fifteenth edition this year. Aside from his last experience, his career also includes San Martín de San Juan; San Martín de Tucumán; Deportivo Maipú; Chaco For Ever; Güemes from Santiago del Estero and Juventud Unida Universitario de San Luis, while on the international level he wore the shirts of Unión Temuco, Naval (both from Chile) and Kecskemeti (Hungary).

On the midfielder’s side, born in Ucacha (from the same land as Fabricio Bustos) 23 years ago, he was in Defensores de Belgrano de Villa Ramallo in 2024. Prior to that, he played inferiors in Talleres and added minutes in both Deportivo Maipú and at Círculo Deportivo de Comandante Nicanor Otamendi.