SPANISH club Villarreal reached an agreement “in principle” with Juan Roman Riquelme on Monday that will allow the out-of-favor Argentina midfield player to rejoin Boca Juniors.

The club’s sporting director Jose Manuel Llaneza will travel to Buenos Aires to formalize the transfer.

Riquelme has not played for Villarreal since falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini last December.

But he has still managed to shine for Argentina in World Cup qualifying, leading the team with four goals from four games.

The 29-year-old playmaker moved to Boca Juniors on loan in January and led the Argentine club to its sixth Copa Libertadores trophy.

Villarreal, meanwhile, missed a chance to move to the top of the Spanish Primera Liga for the first time after being held to a 1-1 weekend draw by Almeria.

Italian champion Inter Milan and Juventus had also reportedly been interested in signing Riquelme in the January transfer window.(SD-Agencies)