Split opinions

Riquelme, who is seen as a classic South American playmaker, has split opinions throughout his career.

Many admire his elegant, unhurried style, a rarity in the fast and physical modern game, and his ability to prise open defences with slide-rule passes.

But his critics say the whole team has to be built around him and when he underperforms he drags the side down. He also has a reputation for underperforming on the big occasion.

Argentine coaches have taken differing views.

Marcelo Bielsa gave him few chances and left him out of the squad for the 2002 World Cup. In 2006 in Germany, Jose Pekerman built the team around him as did his successor Alfio Basile.

At club level, Riquelme left Villarreal in 2007 after falling out with the coaching staff who complained he had too many privileges.

Riquelme, who returned to Boca Juniors for a third stint in November 2007, said he was angry at being left out of the squad for last month's friendly in France and not being told first hand.

He was also upset with comments Maradona made about him in a television interview last week.

"I heard that I wasn't playing against France from (general manager Carlos) Bilardo on the radio and then last week he (Maradona) made comments about my playing style on the television," added Riquelme, who was in Argentina's Olympic gold medal winning team last year as an overage player.

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