Ayala hangs up the boots

Former Argentina captain Roberto Fabian Ayala is reportedly set to retire from professional football.

Ayala, 37, is yet to make a public statement but is believed to have told Argentine side Racing Club de Avellaneda that he intends to call it quits.

The centre-back is the second-most capped player in Argentina’s history with 115 appearances, behind Javier Zanetti.

Ayala made his full international debut in 1994, captaining his country 63 times and winning gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics before his retirement in 2007.

He began his career with Ferro Carril Oeste, before moving to River Plate, where he won the 1994 Apertura championship, before joining Napoli and then AC Milan, where he collected a 1998/99 Serie A winner’s medal.

Ayala began a seven-year spell with Valencia in 2000, where he won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup, before three years with Real Zaragoza.