Riquelme repeats he's not returning for Argentina

Despite calls from the AFA chief for Juan Roman Riquelme to express his availability for the Argentine national team, the playmaker has reaffirmed that he has no intention of returning.

Riquelme told the press that he was "surprised" by the declarations made by AFA president Julio Grondona, who pleaded for the Boca Juniors superstar to ask to be called up again.

"Next year I will continue to play football, and I will be where my children want me to be," said Riquelme. "I can't predict the future and I don't know what will happen in one year's time."

Obviously surprised by the declarations made by the AFA president, once again Riquelme reiterated that he "won't talk about the national team" and that there's no chance that he will return if Diego Maradona continues to be the coach of the side.

"I will always be grateful for what Julio has done, because he has done a lot for me to be here today, at Boca. He contributed and facilitated my return to Boca and my exit from Villarreal. I won't forget about that."

For now, at least, it seems that there is no chance that Riquelme will return to wearing the famous blue and white stripes of his national team.