(CNN Spanish) –– Juan Román Riquelme played his last match at La Bombonera on 11 May 2014. On 7 December of the same year he hung up his boots with the Argentinos Juniors shirt, the club that saw him born in football, facing Douglas Haig of Pergamin.
It’s been 9 years since then. A lot of water has flown under the bridge. Juan Román Riquelme continues to have the halo of being Boca’s biggest idol. Now she finds him again as vice president of his beloved club.
“It has taken me a long time to make this decision, but it is wonderful,” said the star who delighted his fans with his immeasurable talent and fantastic signature game that has drawn praise beyond Argentina.
This Sunday, the great footballer will hold his farewell party at the Xeneize temple. “La Bombonera will be wonderful, as always,” Riquelme said a few days ago, confirming the long-awaited event.
The match will be played this Sunday at 3:00 pm Miami time and will see the special presence of the newest addition to Inter Miami. “Messi will be there. It’s a dream for me too,” said the former Argentina player.
The members of Boca Juniors, the privileged
The Ribera club has communicated through its social networks that Boca members will be able to purchase tickets, exclusive to season-ticket holders, starting this Thursday at 1:00 pm Miami time.
While on Friday, beginning at 1:00 PM Miami time, general tickets will go on sale with exclusive priority to recurring members of all categories except adherents. Boca Juniors clarifies that places will be limited until availability lasts.
In both cases, the purchase will be made online via the club page.
Boca does not provide information on the cost of tickets. According to the Télam agency, prices start at around US$59 (15,000 Argentine pesos) for a popular ticket. The upper stalls come in at around US$118 (30,000 Argentine pesos). For their part, the middle and lower stalls cost around 198 US dollars (50,000 Argentine pesos), according to the official dollar exchange rate.
The big event, which will begin at 3pm Miami time, will be broadcast on public TV or Channel 9, according to the Télam agency. In the end, the words that Riquelme would say on a stage set up in the center of the field are particularly awaited.
Boca Juniors vs. Argentina national team
The duel will be Boca Juniors vs. the selection of Argentina, confirmed the exastro xeneize. In the Xeneize team will be the basis of the team that was full of glory from the late 90s to 2003, a period in which Boca won 9 titles. Carlos Bianchi, who was the technical director with Riquelme as the star, will be there to lead the team.
One of the biggest impacts came in 2000, when Boca Juniors won the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo, beating Real Madrid 2-0, with an outstanding performance by Juan Román Riquelme and also by Martín Palermo.
“I’m happy because everyone I’m inviting immediately says yes,” said the ball wizard at the press conference that announced the match, referring to the availability of each of the guests at the big party.
From the Boca universe, some of them will be Mauricio Serna, Jorge Bermúdez, Marcelo Delgado, Hugo Ibarra, the twins Guillermo and Gustavo Barros Schelotto, Blas Giunta, Óscar Córdoba, Sebastián Battaglia, Raúl Cascini, Fernando Gago, Nicolás Burdisso, Clemente Rodríguez , Rodrigo Palacio, Roberto Abbondanzieri, Clemente Rodríguez, Éver Banega, Claudio Morel Rodríguez, among others.
Opposite there will be the Argentine team which would be led by José Pekerman, Boca’s idol coach at the youth level and at the senior level of the Albiceleste. Another former technical director of the Argentine national team and Boca, Alfio ‘Coco’ Basile, has also been invited. Among the stars who have worn the shirt of the three times world champion, there will be the coach of the Albiceleste, Lionel Scaloni and his technical staff Walter Samuel, Roberto Ayala and Pablo Aimar.
Other special guests who will be present are Leandro Paredes and Angel Di María. In addition to Sergio Romero, Gabriel Heinze, Javier Mascherano, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Juan Pablo Sorín, Javier Saviola, Lucho González, among others.