Riquelme returns to Boca Juniors

Buenos Aires - Former Argentina international midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme has rejoined Boca Juniors seven months after quitting the club.

The announcement came on Friday after the 34-year-old called Boca coach Carlos Bianchi expressing his desire to return to the Bombonera, reports Xinhua.

“After two and a half hours with Riquelme, the board has decided unanimously that given the player’s will to resume training with the squad he should be part of (Boca’s) professional squad from Monday,” club president Daniel Angelici told reporters.

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

The December sacking of Falcioni and reappointment of former Boca coach Bianchi, under whom Riquelme played during a successful four-year spell from 1998 to 2001, is said to have convinced the former Villarreal star to change his mind.