Riquelme claims Andrés Iniesta would have never played for Argentina | OneFootball

Juan Román Riquelme was known for his creative passing and is one of the best Argentine players to ever play the game.

In an interview on ESPN, where Riquelme is now a commentator, the 40-year-old vented his frustration over the current scouting of Argentine players.

The former Boca Juniors midfielder stated someone like Barcelona great Andrés Iniesta would have been passed over in the current system, due to his lack of physical stature.

“In football, you need to be able to pass the ball well and strongly, and know how to control it.

“If Iniesta didn’t know how to control the ball he wouldn’t be able to play because he’s about this tall – he’s short and weighs around 40 kilos – you could practically blow him over, imagine it.

“Iniesta’s the clearest example and you only have to go back five or six years with Argentina’s youth team to find players who are 5’9″…six foot tall and they can’t play.

“If you were six foot tall you would be first choice in the youth team – where would leave someone like Iniesta? He’d never get to play for Argentina’s youth team.”