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Milan release Rivaldo from contract
September 26, 2003 22:15 IST
Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has been released from his contract with European champions AC Milan and says he is weighing up offers from English clubs.
Milan said in a brief statement on their web site that the former Barcelona player had asked to be freed from his deal, which ran until July 2005.
The Brazilian is now free to find a new club without the potential obstacle of a transfer fee, although he will not be able to move until the transfer window opens in January and is not eligible to play in the Champions League.
"There are some possibilities in England, but I will evaluate them carefully and in a composed manner," Rivaldo told Milan's official web site.
Rivaldo, 31, has not featured for Milan in Serie A or the Champions League this season and had become frustrated by being kept on the sidelines.
"I couldn't cope any longer with the idea of having so little possibility of playing," Rivaldo said.
The Brazilian added that Milan's opening game of the season was the moment when he realised it was time to move on.
"I understood at Ancona, where I was left on the bench for the whole game," he said. "If you don't play in games like that, I thought, then you will never play in the big matches.
"It was also a personal decision. I am not looking to blame anyone, it is simply that I think this is the right thing to do.
"I feel sad for the fans. I had hoped that they would see who the real Rivaldo was but they weren't able to," he added.
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.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said there had been no dispute or bitterness behind Rivaldo's departure.
"The decision to mutually cancel the contract, with effect from today, was taken in absolute friendship and calmness," said Galliani.
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.