Leonel Flores addressed supporters and his partner on Friday after Boca Juniors secured a 2 to 1 victory against Talleres at La Bombonera, directly confronting a social media controversy that surfaced earlier in the week, La Nación reported. The 19-year-old forward spoke to reporters immediately following the final whistle regarding a video featuring himself and teammate Ayrton Costa on a video call with another woman. I wanted to apologize to the people of Boca for that extra-football matter, Flores said. It is something that is not done. What I had to be told internally, they already told me. I also wanted to publicly apologize to my girlfriend, because those things are not done.

Social Media Leak Follows Copa Sudamericana Defeat

The controversy began on Wednesday, October 14, when a user on X identifying as Agos published footage from a video call in which she participated, according to La Nación. The recording started circulating online one day after Boca fell 1 to 0 to Vasco da Gama at La Bombonera in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals. During the recorded call, the user mentioned Camila Espinosa, Flores’s partner, prompting both players to react with apparent surprise and question who she was referring to. On Thursday, October 15, Agos explained that the chat had taken place during a stream conducted via OmeTV, pointing to a temporal reference before the encounter with the Brazilian team. The recent injury of Leandro Paredes and the loss against Vasco interrupted an undefeated streak and altered the team’s tranquility, forcing Rodolfo Arruabarrena to reorganize his plans to sustain aspirations in various competitions.

Plantel Discussions and Commitment to the Club

Addressing the fallout within the club, Flores insisted that his focus remains entirely on sporting objectives as Boca navigates a critical phase across multiple competitions. I wanted to make it public so that everyone knows that I am more committed than ever here at the club and I want the best for Boca, he stated. While declining to detail specific conversations held behind closed doors, the young forward confirmed that management and teammates had already addressed the matter internally. Nexofin highlighted that the incident unfolded while head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena was managing an already strained squad following injuries and fixture congestion.

Community Outreach in Monte Chingolo

Away from the professional training grounds, Flores participated in a community outreach event on Wednesday night at the Santa María futsal club in Monte Chingolo, as reported by Qué Pasa Salta. Accompanied by his friend and influencer Leo Silva, the forward helped serve hot meals to local residents during an organized soup kitchen, signing shirts and sharing mate with neighbors. Local commentators on social media noted that the community work contrasted sharply with anonymous online criticism aimed at the player during the height of the video controversy.

Selection Debut and Ongoing Management Under Arruabarrena

The off-field scrutiny arrives shortly after the rising forward achieved a significant career milestone, making his senior international debut for the Argentina national team on September 30 in a 4 to 0 victory over Bolivia at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba. Flores entered the match at the 35th minute of the second half, replacing Exequiel Palacios, and participated in the play leading to the fourth goal converted by José Manuel López. Following breakout performances that included two goals in a 3 to 0 win against Unión, coach Arruabarrena publicly emphasized the need to shield the teenager from excessive digital exposure. Arruabarrena previously urged Flores to relocate from Béccar to Puerto Madero to shorten daily commutes to the Ezeiza training facility and secure adequate rest amid heightened media attention.