Argie legend to return home

By European Football
June 6 2006

Juan Sebastián Verón has finished his loan contract with Inter and is set to return to Argentina. He has already agreed on new terms on contract with the club that saw him grow and develop, Estudiantes de La Plata. Now he only needs to reach an agreement with Chelsea to be released on a free. Argentine stars often return to their beloved clubs back home to play in their final years and be treated like idols after a long and successful career in Europe. Verón has chosen to follow this path too.

Though Argentina giants Boca and River also were interested in the player, negotiations didn’t break through and Estudiantes, a middle table team with a glorious history (world champions in the 60’s), has now got the chance to see their idol back. La Brujita (“the little witch”, his nickname in Argentina, since his father, also a former Estudiantes hero was called la Bruja, “the witch”) went through the youth ranks of the club and after a couple of impressive seasons in the first team was bought by Boca (where he played alongside Maradona), his last team in Argentina before leaving for Italy.

Verón is a controversial character for the Argentine public though, since he was one of the most attacked and blamed for the failure of World Cup. He also strongly believed he should have had a new chance in the national team this World Cup, but without making a big fuss about it showed his disappointment at not being called up.

Now his agent, Fernando Hidalgo, is negotiating with Chelsea the ending of his contract. The English side wants 1.5 million dollars to let him go, a large fee for the Argentine side, but people remain confident that it will be solved. It is said Verón has already found a school in La Plata to send his children to.

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