Barca buy Riquelme outright

The Argentine club had retained a 50 percent share of his "economic rights" which entitled them to a portion of any sell-on fee, when they sold him to Barca in the summer.

The Spanish giants signed the highly-rated playmaker in July for £3.8 million (‚é¼6 million) with the option to pay a further £3.32 million (‚é¼ 5 million) to buy him outright before the end of November.

A club statement read: "The executive committee has decided to make effective the clause in the agreement reached with club Boca Juniors to acquire the remaining 50 percent of Juan Roman Riquelme's rights."

The 24-year-old has impressed the Catalan club's hierarchy sufficiently enough for them to pay for the remainder of his contract after winning his place in Louis van Gaal's plans.