Juan Roman Riquelme has announced he will not play for the national team as long as Diego Maradona remains in charge.

Riquelme was due to feature in next week's World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia, but today announced he would not play for Maradona again due to a difference of "principals" between himself and the former Argentina number 10.

"The National Team is over for me. I will not play in the team while Maradona is in charge," the Boca Juniors midfielder told Buenos Aires television station Canal Trece.

"I can't work with Maradona because we don't share the same principals. We have different opinions and I'm very transparent in every aspect of my life."

Riquelme admitted that he had fallen out with Maradona after he was left out of last month's friendly against France.

"I heard that I wasn't playing against France from (general manager Carlos) Bilardo on the radio and then last week he (Maradona) made comments about my playing style on the television," he continued.

Last week Maradona had commented on the former Barcelona and Villarreal player's fitness during a televised interview.

Speaking today after Riquelme's announcement, Maradona said: "I'm very sad that Riquelme does not want to play in my team but I'm not going to cry over spilt milk."

This is the second time that Riquelme refused to play for Argentina. He announced his retirement from international football in September 2006 only to go back on his decision a year later.

Riquelme has made 50 appearances for Argentina scoring 17 goals. He failed to feature in either of Argentina's games under Maradona - victories over Scotland and France - due to club commitments.