Money talks

Rivaldo's Milan move hinges on wage demands

MILAN (Reuters) -- With cold financial winds blowing through Italian soccer, AC Milan hopes Rivaldo's wage demands will fit in with its salary scale.

Rivaldo is a free agent since he agreed to annul his contract with Barcelona on Saturday and so the Serie A side, which is in talks with the Brazilian forward, would not have to pay a transfer fee.

But the World Cup winner is likely to request a sizeable "signing-on" fee and his salary demands could be considerable at a time when Italian clubs are tightening their belts.

"I hope that his fees will be in line with our policy," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told the club's Web site Wednesday.

"I can confirm that Milan is in talks with Rivaldo and from our side there is certainly the desire to reach an agreement. I hope that the player's requests will enable us to find a good solution to the deal."

Galliani, who is also president of the Italian Football League, has recently made calls for Serie A clubs to take action to reduce their costs.

But he will clearly be tempted by the opportunity to team Rivaldo with Milan's prolific strike pairing of Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko and Italy international Filippo Inzaghi.

Should the move come off Rivaldo would face Ronaldo, who plays for Inter, in next season's Milan derby.

Atletico Madrid has already ruled itself out of the running, claiming that Rivaldo is making unrealistic demands.

Atletico president Jesus Gil said his club's sporting director Paulo Futre had been in contact with the player's representatives.

"Who wouldn't like to have Rivaldo in their club? But given the figures that are being talked about it is just a dream at the moment," Gil said.

Leeds United also said the Brazilian's wages played a part in their decision to turn down the chance to sign the former World Player of the Year.

Club chairman Ridsdale said he received a call from one of Barcelona's representatives, but did not feel Rivaldo would be suited to English soccer.

"I got a telephone call from an agent acting on behalf of Barcelona who wanted to know if we would be interested in signing him (Rivaldo), but we said that we didn't want him," Ridsdale told the Yorkshire Post.

"The situation regarding his wages was an issue, but you also have to consider whether or not he would be suited to the team and English football."

Rivaldo said on his personal Web site that he hoped he would soon be able to join a new European team.

"I want to say to all those people who follow me that I will soon be joining a new team in Europe," he said.

"Perhaps within the next week I will be at the disposition of the coach of a new team and I will then give a more detailed press conference."

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.