Riquelme undervalued in Argentina, says Pekerman (23 Dec 2005 03:50 GMT)
Argentina midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme is undervalued in his homeland and his talent would receive more recognition in Brazil, coach Jose Pekerman said on Tuesday.
"He's one of those different players, who appear at key moments and stand out," Pekerman said in a television interview. "In Brazil, he would be given more value, they would admire his excellent shooting and his calm for making decisive passes.
"In our country, they criticise him if he goes for ten minutes without passing the ball... If he played in Brazil, he would be Riquelminho and he would be number one in the world."
Pekerman has turned the Villarreal player into his playmaker since taking over in October 2003 despite criticism that Riquelme sometimes drifts out of games. Pekerman added that Inter Milan's Juan Sebastian Veron had not been selected because he had not been needed.
"There's nothing unusual about the situation with Veron, I simply don't pick him because, up until now, we haven't needed him," said Pekerman, who has not given Veron a single outing.
source : FIFA