Villarreal will not change their mind about omitting Juan Roman Riquelme from their starting line-up, despite the playmaker’s outstanding performance for Argentina in their 2-0 win over Chile in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
“We took a decision some time ago and our policy is very clear,” club director Juan Manuel Llaneza told reporters. “We hope that in December the player and the club can find a dignified solution to all this.
“At the moment we haven’t received any offers for the player, but I’m sure they will come in December.”
Riquelme fell out with Villarreal and their Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini midway through last season and was sent out on loan to his former club Boca Juniors for the latter part of the campaign.
He inspired the Argentinian side to victory in the Libertadores Cup but returned to Villarreal after a possible move to Atletico Madrid fell through and has not played for the Primera Liga side this season.
He emerged from three months of inactivity to score two magnificent free kicks against Chile.
“It was a very evenly balanced game which Roman decided with two great goals,” said Llaneza. “I don’t think Roman has anything to prove to anyone. We all know he is a great player, we never doubted that.”
But the Villarreal director made it clear that the player’s performance had not altered the fact that Riquelme had no futre at the club.
“I think the time has come for Roman to finish at Villarreal, but if that doesn’t happen he will carry on getting paid his salary and training according to the instructions of the coach in case he is ever needed,” he said.
“The team is very strong at the moment and I don’t think the situation has affected them very much.”
