Riquelme gone on loan to Boca

[jimmylibel]

Boca Juniors president Mauricio Macri has announced that the Argentine club have agreed a deal with Villarreal to take Juan Roman Riquelme on loan for the rest of the season.

 

The 28-year-old has suffered a dramatic fall from grace at Villarreal having seemingly lost the confidence of coach Manuel Pellegrini.

 

The Argentine schemer had been seen as the club's talisman and helped guide them to the semi-finals of last season's UEFA Champions League where he was widely regarded as one of the tournament's outstanding performers.

 

However, having returned from the World Cup, he endured a slow start to this season as both he and Villarreal struggled for form.

 

A 4-1 home defeat against Osasuna on 17th December proved to be the final straw for Pellegrini who has subsequently omitted Riquelme from all match-day squads since, leaving the player kicking his heels in the stands.

 

Villarreal president Fernando Roig has expressed his unhappiness at the player's attitude and it was expected that the South American would move on in the January transfer window.

 

Boca made clear their interest in re-signing a player who made his name with them, but neither club could agree on the permanent deal Riquelme desired.

 

In the end the move did not materialise, but the player has now relented and agreed to accept a six-month loan deal to return to his native Argentina, as confirmed by Macri.

 

"I am happy because we have finalised the return of Riquelme to the club," the Boca supremo stated.

 

Riquelme won six Argentine championship titles during his first spell with the Buenos Aires-based club before moving to Barcelona in the summer of 2002.

 

Link

 

Transfer window not apply to South American clubs then?

[Extraordinary Swindle]

Heard he turned down West Ham in the transfer window.

[CarraLegend]

Thats them nailed on for the Clausura then. Him, Palacio and Palermo will tear teams to shreds.

[jimmylibel]

Heard he turned down West Ham in the transfer window.

 

Yeah, interesting. I suppose that ties in with the £18 million bid for Bent!!!

 

Wonder if the Mancs will come back in for him in the summer? He seems to have completely thrown his toys out of the pram at the moment, will be interesting to see if he gets his form back at Boca.

[Maldini]

He's a great player, but he has no bottle.

[CarraLegend]

Yeah, interesting. I suppose that ties in with the £18 million bid for Bent!!!

 

Wonder if the Mancs will come back in for him in the summer?

 

No chance, you have to play 4 5 1 with him or 4 3 1 2. Dont think he'd last 5minutes over here, games would pass him by.

[Leo No.8]

Great footballer, but its a shame United didn't get him when they wanted to pay silly money in the summer. He had big money flop written all over him because he didn't have the mental strength for a scene like United.

 

Someone in the Villareal side should have taken the ball off him in that CL Semi final; I've never seen a player look so much like he'd miss when he stepped up to take it, but it was like he felt he had to because he was the big fish.

 

It's all been downhill for him from there, which is a shame for such a huge talent.

[jimmylibel]

No chance, you have to play 4 5 1 with him or 4 3 1 2. Dont think he'd last 5minutes over here, games would pass him by.

 

But they were definitely interested last summer.

 

There were some calling for us to sign him last summer and all. Not sure the game would pass him by but I do think he'd struggle to have the same level of impact as he does in Spain or the CL.

[Knox_Harrington]

But they were definitely interested last summer.

 

There were some calling for us to sign him last summer and all. Not sure the game would pass him by but I do think he'd struggle to have the same level of impact as he does in Spain or the CL.

Think if we had quality right across the pitch he'd be worth having in the squad.

[jimmylibel]

Think if we had quality right across the pitch he'd be worth having in the squad.

 

I'd agree with that last season but from what he's been like this season I think he'd spit his dummy. Wouldn't want to build a team around him as he's too unreliable and he seems the type of player that needs to have a team built around him. If you could use him sparingly and he was level headed he be an ideal impact sub for tight games.

[Koogan]

Now I understand why TV cameras have focused so often on him when he's been in the stands, practically 5-6 times in every Villareal match (i.e. each time there's a freekick close to the oppponents penalty area).

 

And no wonder really

[Romario]

Of all the players we mention on here who people reckon would or would

not adapt to our league he's up there for me as someone who simply wouldn't cut it at all.

 

A wonderful player void of any pace at all.

[jimmylibel]

Lack of pace didn't particularly hurt Berkamp though.

 

I think the main problem with Riquelme would be mental rather than adapting to the tempo of the game.

[_00_deathscar]

Riqueleme = Valeron = Veron

[CarraLegend]

Lack of pace didn't particularly hurt Berkamp though.

 

I think the main problem with Riquelme would be mental rather than adapting to the tempo of the game.

 

When you combine it with being a lazy c*** who openly admits he needs defensive players behind him as he doesnt like do that sort of work then you're asking for trouble.

 

He's a wonderful footballer but would be a disaster in England I think.

Edited February 8, 2007 by CarraLegend

[jimmylibel]

When you combine it with being a lazy c*** who openly admits he needs defensive players behind him as he doesnt like do that sort of work then you're asking for trouble.

 

He's a wonderful footballer but would be a disaster in England I think.

 

Could be disastrous, could be Le Tissier. No arguments on him being lazy and that he needs workers behind him. Sounds like a very un Rafa player in that sense.

 

As I say I don't think he'd be up to it mentally and I don't think I'd like him as a 'first 11' player but as luxuries go, he is capable of things that most footballers aren't.

[Guest]

Ricquelme has put himself about during matches more times than I've been right - once.

 

He got himself booked for spitting towards an Osasuna defender.

 

And he's still not gone - Roig is holding back

Edited February 8, 2007 by Figaro

[_00_deathscar]

 

Could be disastrous, could be Le Tissier.

 

Big fish in a small pond? He was already that at Villareal.

 

When he was at Barca he f***ed it up ~ he can't hack it at the "very top".

[jimmylibel]

Big fish in a small pond? He was already that at Villareal.

 

When he was at Barca he f***ed it up ~ he can't hack it at the "very top".

 

Well I meant in the sense that both are very much luxury players and don't tend to do much work for the team. But yeah he would need to have the whole team built around him, as it was at Villareal.

 

He did feck it up at Barca but they didn't help. He was never a wide midfielder and they tried to make him one.

[Leo No.8]

Another failed Barcelona buy Quaresma looks like he's in form this season. Wonder if we may look at him in the summer - he can play left and right and would bring some pace and quality.

[jimmylibel]

Another failed Barcelona buy Quaresma looks like he's in form this season. Wonder if we may look at him in the summer - he can play left and right and would bring some pace and quality.

 

Well we were interested in Simao, another failed Barca etc, etc.

[Clay Davis]

Another failed Barcelona buy Quaresma looks like he's in form this season. Wonder if we may look at him in the summer - he can play left and right and would bring some pace and quality.

theres someone on rawk thats up his a*** so much its unreal.

[Leo No.8]

theres someone on rawk thats up his a*** so much its unreal.

 

He's been outstanding in the CL this year; I've seen a bit of him in the past as well and liked the cut of his jib.

 

Seems to fit our requirements pretty well for next season, think we still need a quick ball carrier out wide.

Edited February 8, 2007 by Leo No.8

[_00_deathscar]

I think Leo's got a sammya-like love-in for Portugese wingers...