Andres Iniesta praises Juan Roman Riquelme

Andres Iniesta has hailed Juan Roman Riquelme as "one of the best" talents in football.

Riquelme, currently at Boca Juniors, played alongside the Spaniard at Barcelona earlier in his career as well as enjoying a spell at Villarreal.

"It is always sad when a world-class player such as Riquelme is no longer in the pitch," said Iniesta.

"If he decides to retire, football has lost one of the best. When I played with him and when I've seen him play what I liked most was the class that he had with the ball, the passes he made, the combinations.

"He is a player with whom I identify, in the sense that he gives the football and asks for the ball at all times."

The 34-year-old was part of the Villarreal side that reached the Champions League semi-final in 2006.