Fenerbahçe’s €75 million comparison for their new No. 8 signing, Medina: “I see his future”

Fenerbahçe has signed Boca Juniors’ 22-year-old midfielder Cristian Medina for a fee of €15 million plus a 20% sell-on clause. The yellow-dark blue fans are eagerly awaiting the young star, who will join the team in January due to a clause in his contract. Argentine journalists, who view Medina as one of the future stars of Argentine football, have shared their thoughts on the transfer and the technical qualities of the player with Spor Arena.

As Fenerbahçe builds its squad for the new season, the club is also investing in young players with high potential for the future. The team reached an agreement with Boca Juniors for the transfer of Cristian Medina. The 22-year-old, who has signed a five-year deal with Fenerbahçe, will join the team during the winter transfer window. Medina has played 156 matches for Boca Juniors, contributing 9 goals and 11 assists. Argentine journalists provided insights into Medina’s potential.

Here are the Argentine journalists’ comments about Cristian Medina:
PABLO CECCHINI (TN DEPORTIVO):
“MEDINA CAN EASILY CONTROL THE GAME AS A NO. 10”
Cristian Medina is a young, dynamic player who is quick and effective in one-on-one situations. He can easily control the game in front of defensive midfielders as a No. 10. Boca Juniors coach Diego Martínez relies on him as a key man in the attack. While Medina had a strong individual performance in 2024, Boca Juniors’ collective development hasn’t quite matched his abilities. He is still young, and it’s up to him to become the player he aims to be.
“A GREAT INVESTMENT BOTH SPORTING AND ECONOMICALLY”
The transfer fee Fenerbahçe paid may seem high at first glance, but if he develops properly, Medina could be a great investment for the club both on a sporting and economic level. His future is bright, but he needs to maintain consistency and perform at the same level for 90 minutes in every match. Medina has excellent qualities, but there are areas he needs to improve. It’s up to him to show what kind of player he can be.
“MOURINHO WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN MEDINA’S DEVELOPMENT”
Coach Jose Mourinho will play a key role in Medina’s development. Medina has a lot to learn about tactical planning on the pitch. Mourinho, known for his tactical prowess, will be the perfect coach to ensure Medina moves more strategically and decisively in every game. Medina is an ideal player for collaboration in the attack. That’s why I think he will be even stronger when he works with Kostic and Szymanski in midfield. Dzeko, Tadic, and En-Nesyri, who all support the attack, will benefit greatly from Medina’s qualities and enjoy playing alongside him.
“ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM IN THE FUTURE”
Argentina’s national team coach Lionel Scaloni evaluates all Argentine players around the world and says whether they will be called up depends on their performance. The truth is that the national team currently has excellent midfielders, so there is no place for Medina at the moment. However, anything can happen with the national team in the future. Although Medina has not yet shown his best performance, he has represented Argentina with the U-23 Olympic team.

CHICHO DAMBORIANA (RADIO LA RED):
“WHEN I LOOK AT MEDINA, I SEE THE FUTURE OF ENZO FERNANDEZ”
Medina is a player with very high technical quality. He knows exactly where to position himself on the field and how to press the opponent. His successful passing and ability to adapt to team play are his strongest assets. He has the potential to be a regular starter for the Argentina national team in the future. When I look at Medina, I see the future of Enzo Fernandez (currently valued at €75 million), who moved from River Plate to Europe and now plays for Chelsea.
Boca Juniors is planning to secure a percentage of any future sale and intends to keep him at the club until January. I believe these types of transfer negotiations could financially save Argentine football because, compared to Brazil, we sell our players for much lower fees.
“HE WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST MIDFIELDERS IN EUROPE”
Jose Mourinho is one of the best managers in history. I believe he can get the best out of any player. If Medina works as hard at Fenerbahçe as he did at Boca Juniors, I have no doubt he will become one of the best midfielders in Europe. Medina will make a significant impact in Fenerbahçe’s midfield. He is very effective both in marking and in playmaking. However, his main strength is spotting the gaps left by the opponent and passing through them. Medina will complement Fenerbahçe’s excellent forwards perfectly. Additionally, he has the ability to enter the opponent’s penalty area, and he is fit and conditioned to play.
“HE COULD REPLACE DE PAUL OR PAREDES IN THE NATIONAL TEAM”
I think it’s very likely that Medina will play for the Argentina national team one day. He performed well at the Olympics this year, unlike Argentina’s weak performance overall. Our national team is also undergoing a generational change. Even if it’s just for a place on the bench, he will definitely be considered for the national team, and if he does well at Fenerbahçe, he will be called up. In the future, he could be considered as a replacement for De Paul or Paredes and might get some playing time.