FC Barcelona get new Riquelme deal chance

FC Barcelona are back in with the best chance of signing Boca Juniors star Juan Riquelme after the midfielder rejected a contract to stay in Buenos Aires.

Boca Juniors annonced last month that they had agreed a new deal with play maker Juan Riquelme to keep their star for one more year.

But Riquelme and his agent have finally rejected the offer and he is set to follow up renewed interest from Barcelona.

AC Milan, Juventus and FC Barcelona have shown long term interest in the Boca midfielder this year with Barcelona agreeing a $24 million ransfer fee in March for the player before they failed to settle personal terms.

Milan have been linked with a pre contract with Riquelme to sign him in 2003 but the player and his agent, Marcos Franchi, negotiated a new contract with Boca president Maurizio Macri to delay his move to Europe for one more year but that has now collapsed leaving Barcelona in the clear to seal their interest in the midfield play maker either next month or in the summer.