Saitama, Apr 25: Bolton Wanderers are talking to Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo over a move to the premier league. Bolton Wanderers are talking to Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo over a move to the premier league, the English club said on Friday (April 23). "We are having on-going talks with Rivaldo about a move to Bolton," a club spokesman said. Rivaldo, who turned 32 on Monday, is a free agent after quitting Cruzeiro at the end of February after less than two months at the Brazilian club when coach Vanderley Luxemburgo, who signed him, was sacked. He can sign for Bolton immediately if terms are agreed. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce initially tried to sign Rivaldo last May when the striker was in Manchester with former club AC Milan for the Champions League final against Juventus, but the Brazilian snubbed the move and returned home.


Allardyce has become adept at capturing big name players after persuading Nigeria captain Jay Jay Okocha and French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff to sign for Bolton even though the club had been involved in annual fights against relegation.


Rivaldo's star has been on the wane ever since he left Barcelona in July 2002. He made 24 only starts for AC Milan in one and a half seasons and left the Serie A club in December out of frustration at being used mostly as a substitute.


The Daily Mirror newspaper quoted a source close to Rivaldo as saying: "He wants to come to England and knows the time is right."


Bureau Report