The former forward recalled the reception from the Fortín fans when he accompanied Rocco, who plays in Boca's youth team, and spoke about the turning point that his time at Xeneize created
Over the years, the former striker explained that he does not regret having worn Boca's jersey, although he did acknowledge the pain caused by his departure. “I have no regrets. I apologized because I broke my word. My career was already made and formed,” he expressed clearly.
Mauro Zárate experienced a very special moment when returning to the Vélez stadium The former striker accompanied his son Rocco, who has been part of Boca's youth divisions since 2025, in a match against Fortín. The visit found him nervous about the possible reaction of the fans, but the reception surprised and deeply moved him.
In an interview with ESPN, Zárate shared that he arrived at the venue with some anxiety. “The day he had to play against Vélez, I was nervous. Anything they were going to say to me, I was going to apologize,” he confessed. However, the reality was very different from what he imagined.
Upon entering, he ran into a member of the fanbase he knew from previous years. The young man looked at him and said a phrase that marked him forever: “Welcome to your home.” That greeting left him speechless and particularly moved him. “That marked me a lot,” the footballer recounted, still visibly affected when recalling it.
The visit turned out to be pleasant. Zárate acknowledged that he enjoyed being back in the place where he was formed, although he understands that the open wound from his departure to Boca is still present. “I had a great time when I had to go to Vélez. That wound is not going to heal because many things happened, and it’s okay that it is that way,” he stated.
Zárate's bond with Vélez is long and deep. He came up through the youth ranks, made his first-team debut at 17, and became champion of the 2005 Clausura Tournament. Later, he returned in different stages, became champion and top scorer of the 2014 Final Tournament, and in January 2018 began a third loan cycle from Watford.
Six months later, he accepted Boca's offer. That decision created a strong break with the Fortín fans, especially because some time earlier he had stated that he would not play for another Argentine club. The transfer left a mark that is hard to erase.
In that sense, he detailed that the offer from Xeneize came at a time when he had to make a professional decision. “Playing for free is nice; you do it for the club where you were born and grew up, but this is also a job,” he argued.
Despite everything that happened, Zárate claims he understands the stance of Vélez supporters and maintains a respectful attitude whenever he encounters any of them. “Whenever I run into a Vélez fan, I apologize, setting aside everything I did for the club. It doesn’t change my thinking,” he affirmed.
The episode with his son at the Fortín stadium once again highlighted that complex yet affectionate relationship. The phrase “Welcome to your home” resonated strongly and reminded him that, beyond the wounds, the place where he was formed still holds a special place in his personal and football history.
Zárate concluded the account by making it clear that the bond with Vélez has not been completely severed. Although the decision to go to Boca generated anger and disappointment, the warm reception from at least part of the fanbase showed him that there is still room for recognition and shared emotion.
The former footballer, who built much of his career in Liniers, still feels the weight of that departure, but he also values the gestures that demonstrate that mutual respect can coexist with past differences.
