Riquelme bows out after Libertadores defeat
Reuters - Thursday 05 July 2012, 11:06
Former Argentina midfielder Juan Roman
Riquelme announced he was leaving Boca Juniors after the defeat
by Corinthians in the Libertadores Cup final.
Corinthians won South America's elite club trophy for the
first time by beating Riquelme's side 2-0 in the second leg of
the final in Sao Paulo on Wednesday night, recording a 3-1
aggregate victory.
"I've told the [club] president I'm not going to carry on,"
former Barcelona and Villarreal playmaker Riquelme told
reporters at the Pacaembu.
"I feel empty. I haven't got anything else to give to the
club," said the 34-year-old who helped Boca to their 10th final
in search of a record-equalling seventh crown.
"I can't play at half [steam]," Riquelme added before
saying he would decide soon if he would continue his career at
another club.
Former Argentina coach Sergio Batista sounded out Riquelme
recently to try to persuade him to join his Chinese team
Shanghai Shenhua.
Riquelme had three spells at Boca, the club where is an idol
and a fan, after emerging from the youth scheme at first
division rivals Argentinos Juniors.
He helped Boca win the Libertadores Cup three times, the old
Intercontinental Cup once, the Copa Sudamericana and five
Argentine league titles.
"I've lived through a lot these past six months. I didn't
expect to play in another Libertadores Cup final," said an
emotional Riquelme.
He played at the 2006 World Cup for Argentina, helping them
reach the quarter-finals before going out on penalties to hosts
Germany, and the Copa America in 1999 and 2007.
Riquelme was an over-age player in the side that won the
Olympic gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games under Batista.