Saitama, Sept 28: Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has been released from his contract with European champions AC Milan, the Serie A club said on Friday. Milan said in a brief statement on their website that the former Barcelona player had asked to be released from his contract which ran until July 2005.
"The decision to mutually cancel the contract, with effect from today, was taken in absolute friendship and calmness," said AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. Rivaldo, 31, has not featured for Milan in Serie A or the Champions League this season and recently said he felt "humiliated" by being left out of the side. The forward, who played a major role in Brazil's World Cup triumph in Japan and South Korea last year, joined Milan from Barcelona on a free transfer at the start of last season but has struggled to make an impact. He was forced to watch Milan's triumph in the Champions League final against Juventus in May from the bench at Old Trafford. Rivaldo said in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper on Monday that he intended to stay in Europe should he leave the Serie A club.


Bureau Report