I feel like a footballer again: Riquelme

Buenos Aires, Feb 12 (IANS) Former Argentina international playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme says he “feels like a footballer again” after ending his seven-month exile from Boca Juniors.

Boca officials announced Friday that the former Barcelona and Villarreal star had agreed to re-sign with the Buenos Aires club until June 2014, reports Xinhua.

“I am happy, I feel like a footballer again which is something that I haven’t felt for a few months,” Riquelme told Boca’s official website Monday. “I have made an important commitment and I hope to fulfil it in the best way possible.”

The 34-year-old revealed he decided to return to the Bombonera after watching the team lose 1-2 to cross-town rivals River Plate in a friendly earlier this month.

“I am a Boca fan. It hurt to see the team lose the last clasico. After the match I was angry and felt that I had to be here.”

The veteran of 51 international matches for Argentina is still unsure when he will return to the pitch, but says he will be ready when called upon by coach Carlos Bianchi.

Riquelme’s decision to walk out on the club in July last year came amid reports of a falling out with then coach Julio Cesar Falcioni.

The dismissal of Falcioni and reappointment of former Boca coach Bianchi in December is understood to have convinced the player to change his mind.

Riquelme is determined not to let Boca’s fans down in what will be his fourth and almost certainly final stint with the club.

“They love me and I love them,” he said. “I hope they are happy. Over the next year and a half I hope to give them more titles. I am just another fan, like them. This is a great moment for me and I hope we can enjoy ourselves.”

IANS 2013-02-12 14:02:07