Leandro Paredes Argentine footballer, midfielder Date of Birth: 29.06.1994 Country: Argentina

1. Early Career at Boca Juniors
2. Loan Spells at Chievo and Empoli
3. Return to Roma and Stardom
4. Move to Zenit Saint Petersburg

Early Career at Boca Juniors

Leandro Paredes, an Argentine midfielder, rose through the ranks of the prestigious Boca Juniors youth academy. He made his first-team debut on November 6, 2010, as a late substitute against Argentinos Juniors. On November 3, 2012, he etched his name in the club's history books by scoring his first professional goals – a brace – against San Lorenzo.

Influenced by his idol Juan Román Riquelme, Paredes initially played in a more attacking role. Boca Juniors fans fondly dubbed him "El Heredero," recognizing his potential as Riquelme's successor. Despite securing the Argentine title in 2011, Paredes played a limited role until the latter half of 2012, appearing in only 28 matches with five goals. However, his performances caught the attention of Italy's AS Roma.

Loan Spells at Chievo and Empoli

In January 2014, Roma secured a loan deal for Paredes, initially through a transit transaction with Chievo. He made just one appearance for Chievo in a match against Torino.

Following his Chievo stint, Paredes joined Roma on a loan deal in July 2014, with an option to buy. He scored his first goal for the Giallorossi in a match against Cagliari. Despite limited playing time, Roma exercised their purchase option for €4.5 million.

In August 2015, Paredes was loaned to Empoli for one season. He made his mark with goals against Udinese and emerged as a key figure in their midfield under Marco Giampaolo, adapting remarkably well to a deep-lying playmaker role.

Return to Roma and Stardom

Paredes returned to Roma in 2016 and made his debut in the Champions League play-offs against Porto. He scored his first goal against Palermo and became the team's set-piece specialist. Under Giampaolo's guidance, he flourished at Empoli, showcasing his vision, passing ability, and set-piece prowess.

Move to Zenit Saint Petersburg

On July 1, 2017, Paredes signed a four-year deal with Zenit Saint Petersburg for a transfer fee of €23 million. He made his debut against SKA-Khabarovsk and scored his first goal for the club against Akhmat. Paredes continued to impress with goals in the Russian Cup and against Tosno. He was even named Zenit's Player of the Month in October 2017. In April 2018, he scored a stunning goal from a direct corner against Arsenal.