Pablo Aimar retires from football at 35

The Argentine, now back in his homeland with River Plate, made the decision after his coach Marcelo Gallardo left him out of the team’s Copa Libertadores squad.

Due to continuous injury problems, Aimar managed only two first team appearances since joining his final club in May.

“They told me I wasn’t going to be on the list for the Copa Libertadores, and I understand,” Aimar wrote in an open letter to team-mates. “I don’t want to occupy a place that definitely should be for others.

“Because of this, I decided to stop playing professionally.”

Aimar won two La Liga titles under Rafa Benitez while with Los Che and also had spells at Real Zaragoza and Benfica.

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