Chelsea and Bournemouth have received another reminder that prising Milton Delgado away from Boca Juniors will not come cheaply.
The Argentine club have rejected an offer worth around €8.6m (£7.5m) from MLS side Atlanta United for the 21-year-old midfielder, according to ESPN Argentina journalist Emiliano Raddi.
Boca have no intention of cashing in unless a club comes much closer to their valuation.
The report adds that this is not the first proposal to be turned down. Trabzonspor also failed with an €8m (£6.9m) bid earlier this year, underlining Boca’s determination to keep hold of one of the brightest products from their academy.
Chelsea and Bournemouth remain in the picture
ESPN Argentina also names Chelsea and Bournemouth among the clubs that have already made enquiries for Delgado following his impressive rise over the past 18 months.
We have also covered previous interest from West Ham and Brighton, but neither club was mentioned in the latest Argentine reports.
Interest in the midfielder accelerated after the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, where he helped Argentina reach the final and won the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third-best player.
With a contract running until December 2029, Boca are under little pressure to negotiate. ESPN adds that his release clause now stands at €21.5m (£18.7m), making the club’s stance even clearer.
Boca showing just how highly they rate him
Boca’s faith in Milton Delgado goes well beyond rejecting transfer offers. After the recent win over Estudiantes, captain Leandro Paredes handed the youngster the captain’s armband during the closing stages of the match, a gesture that reflected the growing respect he has earned within the squad.
Paredes later explained: “Delgado is my safety net. I gave him the captain’s armband because it’s a reward for everything he means to us, how he trains and how much he loves the club. He’s a very humble lad who works hard and listens. Hopefully he stays on this path because he has a huge future.”
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Manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena was equally complimentary. “He’s an engine in midfield. He rarely loses the ball and, when he does, he wins it back,” the Boca boss said.
Those comments help explain why Boca continue to reject approaches. For Chelsea and Bournemouth, any future move is likely to require a much bigger offer than those seen so far.
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