Boca fans hail return of the king

(CNN) -- A special supplement of the famous Argentine football magazine El Grafico released to celebrate Boca Juniors' Copa Libertadores success last week simply showed a picture of playmaker and man of the match Juan Roman Riquelme clutching the trophy under the headline, "Another Copa for the King."

Riquelme had scored both goals in Boca's 2-0 win over Gremio of Brazil in the second leg -- an act of reckless limelight-grabbing by an elegant player more typically found influencing football matches by more subtle and scheming means.

For European football watchers, that starring role also seemed at odds with the player whose career, at least in Spain, has sometimes appeared to be a case study in enigmatic underachievement.

Riquelme is a hero at Boca primarily for his achievements during his first spell with the club between 1996 and 2002, a period in which they had twice lifted both the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup.

Yet the fact he was back at Boca at the age of 28, on loan from Spanish provincial side Villarreal -- rather than attracting offers from Europe's biggest and best -- was testament to his inability to make the same impact in Europe.

Riquelme arrived at Villarreal in 2003 having failed to make any impression at Barcelona following a $20 million move the previous season.

But while his precise and perceptive passing skills were appreciated and admired, Riquelme seemed to shy away or shirk from becoming the big match player his talents suggested he ought to be.

That was typified by his penalty miss in the last minute of the 2006 Champions League semifinal second leg against Arsenal, when a goal would have taken the match into extra time in front of Villarreal's own fans.

Subsequently, Riquelme would fall out with Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini, prompting his return in January to Boca where, back in his comfort zone, he has clicked into his best form as if the past five underwhelming years in Europe had never happened.

Internationally too, Riquelme has more often disappointed than delighted. He was though, one of the best players at the 2006 World Cup until Argentina capitulated to Germany in the quarterfinals on penalties, having unwisely substituted their influential playmaker.

Many expected Riquelme to become Argentina's captain after the tournament; instead, citing concerns over his mother's health, he announced his international retirement after leading Argentina in just one game, a 3-0 defeat by Brazil last September.

Now however, Riquelme has been persuaded to reverse that decision as he returns to the Argentine squad for this month's Copa America in Venezuela. As well as playing for his country, Riquelme is also playing for a club, with Villarreal having already said they have no intention of keeping him and Boca claiming they cannot afford him.

Juventus, re-building for their return to Serie A, are among those rumoured to be interested, while Napoli (the second love of another Boca idol, Diego Maradona) have also been mentioned, along with English Premier League side West Ham, perhaps keen to recruit another Argentinian in an effort to persuade Carlos Tevez (yet another former Bombanera favorite) to hang around a little longer.

Wherever, he ends up next season, Riquelme must surely realise that opportunities are running out if he ever hopes to achieve the sort of status in Europe he commands in Argentina. E-mail to a friend