Riquelme Defends Sebastián Villa’s Boca Return Before O’Higgins Tie

Juan Román Riquelme has publicly defended Boca Juniors’ decision to bring Sebastián Villa back to the club, saying the Colombian forward “fulfilled his sentence” and that the move answered a request from new head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

Speaking before Boca’s Copa Sudamericana playoff match against O’Higgins, the Boca president addressed Villa’s return in his first public comments in almost six months, according to Clarín’s report of his remarks to TyC Sports. The decision has drawn scrutiny because of Villa’s previous legal history during and after his earlier spell at the club.

Riquelme said Boca were “happy” with the players arriving because the club wants a more competitive squad, while making clear that the coaching staff had asked for attacking reinforcement.

Why Boca brought Villa back

Riquelme framed the move as a sporting decision made after Arruabarrena’s arrival. He said the coach wanted a forward and that Boca considered Villa a player with the attributes to compete for a place at the club.

“Our coach wanted a forward,” Riquelme said, according to Clarín. “We believe Villa has all the conditions to play for this club.”

The Boca president also argued that Villa’s previous experience at La Bombonera could help him settle more quickly than a new signing unfamiliar with the pressure around the team. Riquelme referred to “Mundo Boca” — the demanding environment around the club — and said Villa already understands it.

That explanation places the transfer in the context of Boca’s immediate football needs. The club is entering another high-pressure stretch, with continental knockout football and domestic objectives still shaping the second half of the season.

Key facts

The legal context Riquelme addressed

Riquelme’s comments focused heavily on the legal background that made Villa’s return controversial.

Clarín notes that Villa was sentenced in 2023 to two years and one month of suspended prison for gender violence. The same report says he was later acquitted in 2025 in a sexual abuse case. Because these are legal and sensitive matters, the available details here are limited to what the cited report states.

Riquelme said Boca had been clear with Villa during the earlier process. His account was that the club allowed the player to continue while proceedings were ongoing, but that he would stop playing if a sentence was handed down.

“When the judge made a decision, he stopped playing for Boca,” Riquelme said. “Today he fulfilled his sentence.”

The president also said Villa did not bring a claim against Boca after leaving and suggested that, in the club’s view, the player should be allowed a new chance. That is Riquelme’s position as reported; it does not remove the sensitivity around the decision or the scrutiny the club can expect from supporters, media and wider football observers.

Arruabarrena’s arrival changes the sporting picture

Villa’s return comes as Boca begin a new coaching cycle under Rodolfo Arruabarrena. Riquelme said he spoke only with Arruabarrena during the search and praised the coach’s connection to the club.

The appointment followed the departure of Claudio Úbeda after Boca’s Copa Libertadores elimination, according to the Clarín report. Riquelme argued that judgments around coaches and squads can shift too quickly depending on results, pointing to how positive assessments of Úbeda changed after elimination.

For Boca readers, the timing matters. A new coach, new reinforcements and a Sudamericana playoff all converge at once. Villa’s return is not just a transfer story; it affects team selection, dressing-room dynamics and the tone around Arruabarrena’s first major matches.

Riquelme also said Boca want to be “protagonists” in every competition during the second half of the year. That raises the pressure on Arruabarrena to turn recruitment decisions into results quickly.

What Riquelme said about the wider squad

Beyond Villa, Riquelme used the interview to discuss Boca’s broader squad planning and the club’s expectations for the remainder of the season. He said Boca are pleased with the squad, referenced recent reinforcements and expressed confidence that the team can give supporters something to celebrate by the end of the year.

He also spoke warmly about Edinson Cavani, who recently ended his Boca contract after a spell affected by injuries. Riquelme said having Cavani in a Boca shirt was a source of pride, even if the club could not enjoy him at a younger age or with fewer injury problems.

Those comments underline Boca’s current transition: a high-profile veteran has departed, a familiar but controversial winger has returned, and a coach with deep club ties has taken charge. The decisions now have to fit together on the pitch.

Why this matters for FootballGames10 readers

Boca remain one of South America’s most followed clubs, and their squad decisions carry weight beyond Argentina. Villa’s return affects the team’s attacking options in the Copa Sudamericana and domestic competition, but it also raises questions about how major clubs balance performance needs with reputational and legal considerations.

For supporters tracking Boca’s fixtures, previews and results, the immediate question is whether Arruabarrena uses Villa quickly or manages his return gradually. For wider football readers, the story is also about governance: Riquelme has now put the club’s reasoning on record, and that reasoning will be judged against both performances and public reaction.

The next checks are Boca’s official squad lists, Arruabarrena’s matchday selections and any further club statements around Villa’s registration and role. At this stage, the main public explanation comes from Riquelme’s interview as reported by Clarín.

Source: Clarín Deportes — https://www.clarin.com/deportes/riquelme-defendio-regreso-sebastian-villa-boca-cumplio-sentencia_0_AHDftCXtVn.html