FC Barcelona have exercised their option of buying Argentinian midfield player Juan Riquelme outright from former club CA Boca Juniors.

Exclusive to Barça
To ensure he becomes exclusively a Barça player, the Catalan team have acquired the remaining 50 per cent of his contract for €5m. Riquelme cost €6m in July, with the clubs agreeing a separate fee for the rest of his rights.

Rights shared
"Barcelona have acquired the remaining 50 per cent of the rights to Juan Riquelme, which until now were shared with his previous club Boca Juniors," the club said. Barça had until 30 November to exercise the buy-out clause.

Settled in well
Riquelme began the season on the bench, but has made the most of an injury to Luis Enrique to claim a starting place in recent weeks. The 24-year-old, who has followed in the footsteps of Diego Maradona by moving from Boca to Barça, is regarded as the natural heir of Rivaldo who left for AC Milan in the summer.