Just a month after his much celebrated return to River Plate, Pablo Aimar has announced his retirement after ‘suffering’ with injuries. The club legend has decided to call time on his glittering career that saw him emerge as one of River’s top youngsters in the late nineties before starring for Valencia and Benfica predominantly. His return to River from Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim was delayed over doubts surrounding his fitness and it has finally caught up with El Payaso.

Aimar has played just twice since this return but after learning that he would not be in River’s squad for the Copa Libertadores semi-final against Guaraní last night he decided it was enough. Issuing a statment the 35-year-old midfielder said:

“Yesterday they advised me that I will not be on the list of the Copa [Libertadores], and I understand. I do not want to occupy a place that probably is for other guys. So I decided stop playing professionally.”

Following River’s victory Marcelo Gallardo admitted that Aimar had struggled in training during the season break. The River coach said: “He told me he was suffering, but he was trying to hide it behind desire and enthusiasm.”

It is a somewhat sad ending to Aimar’s career but River supporters will remember the teenage talent that helped the club to the Copa Libertadores in 1996 and three league titles between 1997 and 2000. Aimar made over 80 appearances for River before going on to make 162 for Valencia, winning two La Liga titles and a UEFA cup.