Boca Juniors star Juan Roman Riquelme has said that he has been contacted by Brazilian giants Santos.
The veteran midfielder decided to leave his boyhood club in September and has since been pondering his future.
He has been heavily linked with a move to Brazil, with Cruzeiro and Santos believed to be keen.
Riquelme has now revealed that he was on the verge of joining Cruzeiro in the summer.
“After the (Copa Libertadores) final against Corinthians, there was much talk whether I would play football in Brazil with Cruzeiro,” the 34-year-old said to Brazilian TV station Gazeta.
“I talked a lot with (Juan Pablo) Sorin. But the (Boca Juniors) president needed a lot of time to sign the papers and I hasn’t been lucky enough to play there.”
However, the highly rated midfielder could still play in Brazil, with Santos exploring the possibility of signing him in January.
“They (Santos) called me. Nothing more than that. We have to wait and see if any club attracts me.”
Riquelme has yet to decide whether he will retire or continue his playing career, but it is almost certain that he won’t be returning to La Bombonera.
During the three spells with los Xeneize, the former Argentina international has become a genuine club icon, with his popularity with the fans surpassing even that of Diego Armando Maradona.
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