Riquelme's Villarreal anger

Argentinian midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme has revealed his disgust at his club Villarreal after they promised to play him, but have frustratingly ignored his requests for first-team action.

"The club said very clearly that if I did not leave by August 31 then I would become a regular member of the squad," Riquelme was quoted as saying by Spanish daily Marca.

"The reality is that I am not another member of the squad. I am not a player like everyone else."

Riquelme also claims the Spanish side played a role in his failure to secure a move to Atletico Madrid in the close season.

"I went to Madrid one evening and everything was sorted out between the two clubs and then the following day I was told that it had all collapsed.

"I then finished training; I left Madrid by car to return Villarreal. That shows that I made a huge effort to solve things because all I wanted was to play again."