Villarreal still wants to sell Riquelme (16 Oct 2007 05:15 GMT)
Villarreal will not change their mind about sidelining Juan Roman Riquelme despite the playmaker's virtuoso 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 on Monday. "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's last competitive game was in Argentina's defeat to Brazil in the final of the Copa America in July, but he emerged from three months of inactivity to score two majestic free kicks and get his team off to a winning start in the World Cup qualifiers.
"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 led to a change of heart.
"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 added.
source : Reuters