Juan Roman Riquelme is looking forward to returning home to Argentina after Spanish club Villarreal agreed a deal with Boca Juniors.
Riquelme has not played for Villarreal since falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini last season. Earlier this year, he spent four months on loan at Boca Junior and was the inspirational figure as the Buenos Aires club won the Libertadores Cup.
However Villarreal and Boca struggled to agree terms for Riquelme’s permanent transfer and the Argentina midfielder spent the opening months of the European season watching from the stands.
But a transfer to Boca has now been agreed, with Villarreal receiving £2.1million (3 million euros).
“I am a simple person and all I want is to play football every Sunday,” Riquelme told Spanish media. “This move is the only chance I have to play at the next World Cup, which is the thing that motivates me most.”
Riquelme claimed he had offered to play a year for free with Boca. “I have told Villarreal they do not have to pay me what they owe me for another year and a half.”
He also revealed he had spurned an offer from Tottenham Hotspur. “I thank them for their interest but my family and I want to return home.”
