Boca keen to tie down Riquelme

Hammers target looks set to stay in Argentina

Last updated: 18th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Boca keen to tie down Riquelme

Riquelme: Set for Boca stay

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Boca Juniors coach Claudio Borghi is hoping to strike a deal to re-sign West Ham target Juan Roman Riquelme.

Riquelme is currently out of contract after spending the last three years at the Buenos Aires-based club and has been tipped for a move to the Premier League.

But Borghi, who took over at Boca in June, claims discussions are under way to re-sign the talented former Argentina number 10.

"The club directors are negotiating with him," the coach told Argentinian sports paper Ole from Australia, where the club are currently on a pre-season tour.

"I would like to be able to enjoy watching him play in my team.

"If you can make me enjoy myself, I will put you in the team every week."

Riquelme has been linked with Everton and Tottenham in recent years, while there has been interest from West Ham and Brazilian club Flamengo this summer.

Boca fan

However, the 31-year-old insists his preferred choice is to remain at Boca and believes an agreement could have been reached a long time ago.

"I'm a Boca fan and I'll die a Boca fan - I want to stay at Boca," the former Villarreal playmaker told Fox Sports.

"The only thing I am asking for is a contract for four years. If they had wanted to, they could have sorted this out two months ago."

Riquelme has also attracted interested from Racing Club, but the player, who has refused to turn out for Argentina under Diego Maradona, says he would not sign for any other club in his homeland.

"I am grateful for their interest," he said. "I have a very good relationship with (Racing coach) Miguel (Russo), but I won't play with another shirt in Argentina."

That leaves the route clear for Boca and Borghi believes an agreement will be reached soon.

"Since I took over at Boca, the only time I have spoken to Roman was at Pilar (where the club have a training facility), but I am confident everything can be sorted out soon," he said.

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