Boca Juniors refuse to rule out fielding Juan Roman Riquelme in next month's Club World Championship.

Boca chief Juan Carlos Crespi announced last night that an agreement with Villarreal was all but closed: "Riquelme will again pull on the No10 shirt of Boca Juniors. He will probably be training with us by Friday.

"He could be playing with Boca in the Club World Championship in Japan.

"There is no doubt about his transfer.

"The only thing lacking is for Riquelme to fly to Buenos Aries on Thursday and sign his contract."