“Juan Roman Riquelme could’ve played for Real Madrid”

Pavel I. MedaMarch 27, 2021 9:35 pmMarch 27, 20219:37 pm

28 Nov 2000 : Juan Riquelme of Boca Juniors is tackled by Geremi of Real Madrid during the Toyota Intercontinental Cup against Real Madrid in the National Stadiu,Tokyo,Japan.Boca Juniors won the match 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport

During an interview with an outlet from Argentina, a Real Madrid legend confessed he believes Juan Roman Riquelme could’ve played there.

Juan Roman Riquelme arrived at FC Barcelona from Boca Juniors at the start of the millennium but he could’ve played for Real Madrid as well. At least that’s what Vicent del Bosque believes, Los Blancos’ former manager. During the time he won the UEFA Champions League with the Spanish giants, he recalls how his players lost the Intercontinental Cup final vs Boca Jrs.

In that game, Roman delivered a memorable performance that gave them the title. Del Bosque was on his second year at the club during one of the most memorable eras of his career at a club level. He didn’t expect the rival he got in that final. Riquelme was the player that surprised him the most, to a point of veneration. In a recent interview picked up by TyC Sports, the former manager confessed he would’ve liked watching Riquelme wearing white.

🇪🇸🎙️ Vicente del Bosque, ex DT campeón del mundo con #España y símbolo del #RealMadrid, elogió a #Riquelme y hasta dejó un definición contundente sobre #LaBombonera: "La cancha de #Boca me parecía la esencia de lo que debe ser un campo de fútbol, se olía fútbol por todos lados". pic.twitter.com/JHui7lcPBt
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 5, 2020

Riquelme earns a new admirer.

TyC Sports reported on the following statement from Del Bosque: “Riquelme was a player who absorbed the game deeply. He was a major influence in his squad. The game was played at his pace. In Europe, he filled the expectations completely. We are talking about a very talented player who could’ve easily played for Real Madrid. I remember we seemed better during that final but they won through their effort and hard work.

“They were also a higher quality, they had everything. We got beaten and there’s nothing more to it. That’s what happens in football. You win some, you lose some. We weren’t capable of coming back from two goals, even though our squad made a massive effort. Boca had Riquelme, Palermo, Serna, and Bianchi as their manager. They were a fantastic team that won the final fair and square. It was a very experienced and competitive squad.”