No change of heart from Villarreal over Riquelme

Villarreal will not change their mind about sidelining Juan Roman Riquelme despite the playmaker's virtuoso performance for Argentina in their 2-0 win over Chile in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

"We took a decision some time ago and our policy is very clear," club director Juan Manuel Llaneza told reporters.

"We hope that in December the player and the club can find a dignified solution to all this. At the moment we haven't received any offers for the player, but I'm sure they will come in December."

Riquelme fell out with Villarreal and their Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini midway through last season and was loaned to his former club Boca Juniors for the second part of the campaign.

He inspired the Argentine side to victory in the Libertadores Cup but returned to Villarreal after a possible move to Atletico Madrid fell through and has not played for the Primera Liga side this season.

His last competitive game was in Argentina's defeat to Brazil in the final of the Copa America in July, but he emerged from three months of inactivity to score two majestic free-kicks and get his team off to a winning start in the World Cup qualifiers.

"It was a very evenly balanced game which Roman decided with two great goals," said Llaneza. "I don't think Roman has anything to prove to anyone. We all know he is great."