Riquelme's decision, which he announced on Sunday, came as a surprise
since he was weighing up the chance of a move to Paraguayan club Cerro
Porteno, having quit Argentinos Juniors after helping them secure
promotion back to the first division.
The 36-year-old had left Boca, the top Argentine side he helped win a string of domestic and international titles and where he had stated he was more important than the club president, at the end of last season in June.
"I don't know if this is a special day, but it is important... I've made the decision not play football any more," Riquelme told former Real Madrid and Argentina defender Enrique Wolf in an exclusive interview on a TV sports programme.
"I was sure that to do something important it had to interest and motivate me. I think that after having fulfilled my commitment to Argentinos and all Boca's dreams, this is what's best."
Riquelme is best remembered in Europe for his often brilliant Argentina form and for having missed a penalty for Villarreal, his second Spanish club after Barcelona, in a Champions League semi-final shootout with Arsenal in 2006.
The 36-year-old had left Boca, the top Argentine side he helped win a string of domestic and international titles and where he had stated he was more important than the club president, at the end of last season in June.
"I don't know if this is a special day, but it is important... I've made the decision not play football any more," Riquelme told former Real Madrid and Argentina defender Enrique Wolf in an exclusive interview on a TV sports programme.
"I was sure that to do something important it had to interest and motivate me. I think that after having fulfilled my commitment to Argentinos and all Boca's dreams, this is what's best."
Riquelme is best remembered in Europe for his often brilliant Argentina form and for having missed a penalty for Villarreal, his second Spanish club after Barcelona, in a Champions League semi-final shootout with Arsenal in 2006.
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