30.06.03. Riquelme's future at Barcelona is uncertain. He has not had a good first season and new manager Rijkaard said he does not want him in his squad. With the number of EU players reduced to three for next season, he may be sold on, either to Italy or possibly back to Argentina.

22.06.03. Was on the bench but didn't get a game in the last match of the season against Celta. Barça won to overtake Athletic and take the last UEFA cup spot.

15.06.03. Having made a gruelling long trip to the Far East to play for his country, was substitute again at Valencia. Got a run out for the last ten minutes with Barça already three up against nine man Valencia.

08.06.03. Called up by Argentina for the two friendly matches in the Far East against Japan and South Korea. Came on in both matches as substitute for Aimar in the second halves of the respective games.

01.06.03. On the bench again for the home game against Málaga, coming on at the break for the injured Sorín. Showed some good touches later on.

25.05.03. Came on midway through the second half for the game at Recreativo and scored his side's third goal.

18.05.03. Came on at half time for Mendieta in the home game against Mallorca, and had a hand in Kluivert's equalising goal. However Barça lost 1-2 in the end.

11.05.03. Down with flu during the week, and missed the Catalunya cup semi-final against Terrassa. Recovered in time to make the squad for Sevilla, but only came on for the last five minutes in place of Saviola.

04.05.03. Started the league game against Rayo Vallecano, but was replaced twenty minutes from the end by Gerard.

27.04.03. Came on four minutes from the end of normal time in the Champions League tie with Juventus, and played through the thirty minutes of extra time. However Barça lost 1-2 and were knocked out of the competition. With Luis Enrique and others injured, he started the match against Real Sociedad and made the opening goal for Saviola. Replaced twenty minutes from the end by Nano.

20.04.03. Came on for last ten minutes in the game at Real Madrid, replacing Luis Enrique.

13.04.03. Started the Champions League game at Juventus on the left of midfield, and came close to scoring with a long effort before the break. Appeared to have picked up a knock though, and was replaced by Mendieta early in the second half. Substitute at the weekend against Deportivo, replacing Mendieta for the last 15 minutes with the team already losing 2-4.

06.04.03. Played the first hour at Villarreal, but was taken off and replaced by Gerard. Barça lost 2-0, their first defeat under Antic.

23.03.03. Played the whole game in the Champions League fixture at Newcastle, and set up the second goal for Motta with a free kick. With several injuries, he was given another start in the league against Racing Santander and had probably one of his best games since joining the club, setting up goals for Kluivert and Overmars and scoring another himself in the 6-1 win.

16.03.03. Had a good game against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League which Barça won to qualify for the quarter finals, and seems to be settling in to the side. Played the full match at the weekend at Alavés, and although he showed a couple of nice touches, the Catalans ended with a disappointing scoreless draw.

09.03.03. Started the game against Valladolid, but was substituted by Luis Enrique twenty minutes from the end. Was obviously upset about it, and did himself no favours refusing to shake hands with Antic on his way off the field.

02.03.03. Came on midway through the second half for Rochemback in the Champions League game at Inter Milan, which ended goalless. Played the full match at Osasuna, and set up Barça's second goal for Luis Enrique. The game ended in a 2-2 draw though.

23.02.03. Non-playing substitute for the Champions League game against Inter Milan, which Barça won 3-0. Started on the bench again against Betis, coming on for Mendieta midway through the second half with the team already winning 4-0.

16.02.03. Substitute again for the derby game at Espanyol, coming on for Saviola with twenty minutes to go.

09.02.03. Started on the bench for Antic's first official game in charge, coming on for Mendieta twenty minutes from the end with the sides already drawing 2-2.

02.02.03. Barcelona under new management, with Toño De la Cruz standing in as caretaker pending the arrival of Antic. Injuries and suspensions meant that Riquelme started the game at Atlético, but once again he failed to produce anything as the Catalans lost 3-0.

26.01.03. Left on the bench for Van Gaal's last stand at Celta. Barça lost, and a change of manager is expected this week.

19.01.03. Didn't start the game against Valencia, but came on seven minutes before half time for a disgusted Rochemback as Van Gaal tried to turn around a two goal deficit. Did not do much though.

12.01.03. Substitute against Málaga, coming on for Rochemback with half an hour to go. Livened things up a bit, but the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

05.01.03. Rumours during the winter break that he was going to be loaned out to Juventus in exchange for Marcelo Salas, although Van Gaal denied it and says that he will be staying. However he was left on the bench for the game against Recreativo.

22.12. Appears to have fallen out with Van Gaal after being told he would start on the bench at Mallorca. He then picked up a "mystery injury" and did not travel to the game.

15.12. Played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle in the Champions League, setting up Barça's third goal from a corner. Had a bad game at the weekend against Sevilla, which his side lost 0-3.

08.12. Another loss, this time to Rayo Vallecano. Riquelme played the whole game again.

01.12. Started the Champions League game at Bayer Leverkusen on the bench, but came on together with Saviola at half time with his side behind and immediately set up his fellow countryman for the equaliser. Had a penalty saved later on, but Barça still won in the end. Both he and Saviola started the league game at Real Sociedad, but did not do a lot and Barça lost.

24.11. Recovered in time for the big match, and played all but the last three minutes, being substituted by Saviola much to the crowd's disgust when he was playing well.

17.11. Picked up another injury and missed both the last Champions League phase one game against Lokomotiv and the league match at Deportivo. Will not now travel to Japan to join the Argentina squad, but hopefully will be fit again for the game against Real Madrid.

10.11. Called up by Argentina for the friendly match in Japan in two weeks time together with Saviola and Bonano. The fixture is only three days before Barça play Real Madrid, which could cause problems for Van Gaal. Played the full game against Villarreal, scoring the only goal from the penalty spot in the second half.

03.11. With Barça already assured of winning their group, Riquelme started the Champions League game at Club Brugge. Scored the only goal of the game in the second half, an individualist effort with a run and shot from outside of the area. Luis Enrique was still not fit so started again at Racing Santander, watched by Argentina manager Bielsa. Did not have the greatest of matches, but nearly scored on three occasions in the second half as the team drew 1-1.

27.10. Finally got a start in the Champions League game against Lokomotiv in place of the injured Luis Enrique. Did not do much in a disappointing performance all round by Barça, although the winning goal by Frank De Boer came from Riquelme's free kick. Came on at half time in the home game against Alavés with the side already winning 4-0. Made the sixth goal with a through ball to Kluivert.

20.10. Came back into the squad for the game at Valladolid, but Van Gaal decided not to bring him on despite the fact that his side were losing.

06.10. Returned from Argentina midweek, but still nursing the injury and so didn't play against Osasuna. Some rumours that he is spending too much time night clubbing, but he strongly denied it.

29.09. Missed the Champions League game at Galatasay through injury, and was given permission to travel back to Argentine to see his family and attend the birth of his second child, a boy named Agustín. His wife and kids will be moving to Barcelona next week, and it is hoped that they will help him to settle down in Spain.

22.09. Came on for the last twenty minutes of the opening Champions League game against Club Brugge in place of Luis Enrique, but did not participate much. Half time substitute against Espanyol in the league and had a better game, although the club announced after the match that he had picked up a muscle strain and would not be travelling to Galatasaray midweek.

15.09. Was brought in to the starting line up for the cup match at Novelda as Van Gaal changed his side around. Scored from a second half penalty, but otherwise was not seen much as Barça fell to an embarrassing defeat. Gave up his place again to Luis Enrique at Bilbao, and stayed on the bench throughout.

01.09. Started Barça's first official game against Legia Warsaw on the bench as has been carrying a slight injury and Van Gaal thought he had not quite fitted in to his game plan. Came on for Luis Enrique with half an hour to go and scored Barça's second goal twenty minutes later, a cracker from over 25 yards out which endeared him to the Nou Camp crowd. Missed the second leg in Poland through injury, and was on the bench again for the opening league match against Atlético Madrid, coming on late on for Saviola.

FC Barcelona's star signing this season made his name playing for one of Argentina's top clubs, Boca Juniors. Linked with a move to Barça for a couple of years, the financial crisis in his home country together with the sensational kidnapping of his brother finally convinced Román and his club to push the transfer through. His arrival coincided with Rivaldo's departure, and having taken over his number ten shirt, he is expected to step into his shoes. If his pre-season form is anything to go by, that should not be a problem.