Rivaldo hits back

Van Gaal says lack of commitment led to Rivaldo exit

Barca's coach says Rivaldo changed after receiving accolades. Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

MADRID (Reuters) -- Rivaldo has hit back at accusations by Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal that a lack of commitment was the reason behind the Catalan club's decision to release the Brazilian international from his contract.

The 30-year-old forward claimed that the van Gaal, who in his previous post as the Dutch national coach failed to steer his side to qualification for the World Cup, was jealous of his success at this summer's tournament in South Korea and Japan.

"He is envious because I won a tournament [the World Cup] that he couldn't even qualify for," Rivaldo said on his personal Web site on Wednesday.

"I feel sorry for van Gaal and understand why he is so angry. With all the stars in the Dutch team he wasn't even capable of guiding them towards qualification for the World Cup."

Earlier on Wednesday the Dutch coach denied that he had anything personal against Rivaldo, but said that a request from the player to extend his holidays had triggered the decision to annul his contract a year before it was due to expire.

"I liked Rivaldo when he was committed and motivated," said van Gaal speaking from the club's preseason training base in Switzerland.

"But after he asked for two more weeks' holiday this weekend knowing full well that we have to play a Champions League qualifier he showed that he did not have the necessary commitment to Barcelona.

"Winning the World Cup was a great achievement for Rivaldo, but he has to remember that it was the club that was paying him and the club must come first," he said.

Van Gaal also claimed that Rivaldo appeared to show more determination and commitment when he played for Brazil than for Barcelona.

"His level dropped more for Barca than for Brazil," he said. "When you saw Rivaldo play for Brazil you saw an enthusiastic player, who wanted to work for his team. That is the difference."

Change in attitude

Van Gaal, who was first in charge at the Nou Camp from 1997-2000, said that he had detected a change in attitude from the player after he won the World and European Player of the Year awards in 1999.

"I liked Rivaldo before he was chosen as the world's best player but since then he has not performed as well," he said.

"I wanted that Rivaldo because he was the best, but from that time on he didn't deal with either his personal or sporting situation in the right manner."

Van Gaal had a high profile run-in with Rivaldo in December 1999 -- the same month in which he was given the two prestigious awards -- when the Brazilian demanded to play in the center of the pitch rather than out on the left wing.

The Dutchman won that test of strength and Rivaldo was forced to apologize for his comments after sitting out two games but relations between the two suffered irrevocable damage.

Rivaldo responded in kind to the criticisms from his former coach that he had changed attitude after being given the international awards.

"I would also like to see the van Gaal before I won those awards -- the one that was European champion [as Ajax coach] and won various league titles and not the one that was unable to lead the Netherlands to qualification.

"Honestly, it makes me sad that he has tried to undermine me like this," he added.

The player, who is negotiating a possible move to Italian club AC Milan, said he would give his version of his departure in the near future.

"I am on holiday at the moment and I can't give a press conference but I promise to do so as soon as I have had a rest," he said.

Leeds turns down chance to sign Rivaldo

LEEDS, England (AP) -- Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said Wednesday he turned down the chance to sign Brazilian star Rivaldo.

The 30-year-old World Cup winner was released by Barcelona last week and is currently being linked with a move to Lazio, AC Milan and Newcastle.

Ridsdale said he received a call from one of the La Liga club 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."

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.