Riquelme quits Argentina

Juan Roman Riquelme has surprisingly retired from international football with Argentina.

The Villarreal playmaker cited the ill health of his mother as his reason for calling it a day with the South American nation.

Despite being only 28 years of age, the former Boca Juniors and Barcelona man claims his decision was a simple one to make.

"Since the World Cup, my mother has been taken to hospital twice and my responsibility is to take care of her," said Riquelme.

"It was an easy decision to make. My family comes before the football.

"It will hurt me deeply not to wear the Argentina shirt again, but my mother's health comes first.

"There's been a lot of bad blood (since the World Cup) and I don't want to make her suffer.

"My mother is my mother and I can't compare her with the Argentina shirt or anything else."

Riquelme says he has informed Argentina boss Alfio Basile of his decision.

"My duty was to tell him and thank him for picking me for the first game," added Riquelme.

"It was a very short chat. I told him what I thought and he understood."