Boca star quits after Copa defeat
5 July 2012 10:12
Juan Roman Riquelme admits he has nothing left to give Boca Juniors after quitting the club with immediate effect on Thursday.
The Argentine giants lost 2-0 defeat to Corinthians, courtesy of an Emerson double, handing the Brazilians a maiden Copa Libertadores title, and casting doubt on the 34-year-old's future.
And, following talks with Boca president Daniel Angelici, the playmaker agreed the time had come for him to end his five-year stint in Buenos Aires.
"This afternoon, I spoke with the president and informed him that I would not continue," he told reporters.
"I am very grateful to the club and the team, I know I am, but I have nothing left to give the club, I'm empty.
"The relationship I share with Boca is great, I'm a fan of this club but now I have reached the end of the road.
"Now I just want to go home, have a barbecue with my friends, see my children and greet them. All I ask is for forgiveness from my child that I could not win the cup again."
Riquelme then hinted that he would take a break from football for the foreseeable future, having revealed his exhaustion and anticipation at being in the company of close friends and relatives once more.
"I now need to go home and be with my family and friends," he said.
"If my friends want to see me and discuss where I will play next, I will do so on my games console but I cannot play any more (football right now).
"Like I said, I am empty and I have nothing more to give."
Riquelme, a former Argentina international, scored 29 goals in league 153 appearances for Boca during his second stint with the club.
