Buenos Aires (EFE).- Juan Román Riquelme had his farewell match before a full Bombonera that gave an ovation to one of his greatest idols in a match that pitted Boca against the Argentine National Team, led by Lionel Messi, who this Saturday had said present in the party tribute to Maximiliano Rodríguez in Rosario.
The match ended 5-3 in favor of Boca with goals from Antonio Barijho (2), Pablo Ledesma, Juan Román Riquelme and Sergio ‘Manteca’ Martínez, while ‘Lucho’ González, Lionel Messi and Fernando Gago converted for the representative Albiceleste.
The party began in the afternoon with two musical shows: Damas Gratis and Onda Sabanera, in front of a stadium that quickly filled its stands to say goodbye to one of its greatest idols who wore the Xeneize jacket in two stages: 1996-2002 and 2007-2014.
In addition to Lionel Messi, the farewell match of Juan Roman Riquelme had stellar presences such as Lionel Scaloni, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, Juan Pablo Sorin, Esteban Cambiasso, Fernando Gago, Javier Saviola, Pablo Aimar, Diego Placente, ‘Lucho’ Gonzalez , Ezequiel Lavezzi (for Argentina); Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya, Oscar Cordoba, ‘Cata’ Diaz, Sebastian Battaglia, Nicolas Burdisso, Maurice ‘Chicho’ Serna, Marcelo Delgado, Rodrigo Palacio, Blas Giunta, Walter Samuel, Hugo Ibarra and Jorge Bermudez, among others.
The coaches of both teams were José Néstor Pekermam, Alfio Basile and Carlos Bianchi, to whom Riquelme dedicated a few words in his final speech.
“You were my coach when you were little, you have helped me a lot. I love you very much and I hope you and the whole family are very happy, ”he told Pekerman.
“He is the cutest tonight, he has taught me as an athlete and how life is, I love him very much Coco, it was hard for me to find him,” he dedicated words to Basile.
“He arrived in 1998, and you are to blame for all of us bosteros thinking that winning the Libertadores is easy. It’s all yours. I feel part of his family, I love him very much, ”he concluded about Bianchi.
Juan Román Riquelme pays tribute to Maradona
Then he put on the Boca shirt with Diego’s 10 and declared: “I dreamed of buying my mother’s house. You treated me wonderfully, from the first game to the last, that was wonderful. I was lucky. I had to play with the greatest, which was Maradona”.
“Then time passed, I got older and it’s unbelievably big. I don’t know if he’s bigger than #Maradona, but they’re the two biggest I’ve ever seen and it’s wonderful to have him here. I apologize to your family that you stayed a couple more days, I am grateful that you always said yes to me and for all the bosteros being lucky to have you here is unforgettable, I hope you had a great time. I love you very much ”, was the phrase in reference to Messi and his presence.
“My dad made me a bostero, like all of you. I’m going to die boster. I thank you all for the love. I go to bed and wake up every day thinking about how to maintain that. I could not live without you,” Riquelme said.
The end was with a postcard from all those present together with the honoree Juan Román Riquelme.