AC Milan open talks to sign Rivaldo after Barcelona split

AC MILAN are in talks aimed at signing Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo.

The striker has become a free agent since his contract with Barcelona was cancelled on Sunday.

"I can confirm that talks are taking place ... I won't say anything more," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was quoted as saying yesterday.

Reports claim that Milan president, Italy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, gave Galliani the go-ahead to approach Rivaldo's representatives on Sunday after news of the 30-year-old's break with Barcelona became known.

Berlusconi's Fininvest company own Milan and although Galliani is responsible for the day-to-day running of the club, the word of the president has always been required for any major acquisitions.

Even though Rivaldo would be available on a free transfer he is likely to request a sizeable signing on fee and his salary demands would be considerable, especially at a time when Italian clubs are attempting to tighten their belts.

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

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

Should the move come off Rivaldo would face his World Cup team-mate Ronaldo, who plays for Inter Milan, in next season's Milan derby.

But it is unlikely that Milan will be the only club to be in contact with Rivaldo's management company.

Yesterday, Rivaldo hinted he might be interested in a move to Real Madrid and rejected reports that he had signed an agreement with Barcelona promising not to join their arch-rivals.

Responding to a tongue-in-cheek invitation to join him at Real from the club's Brazilian defender Roberto

Carlos, Rivaldo said he was willing to listen to an offer from the club's sporting director Jorge Valdano. "Tell Valdano to ring me I am now an unemployed footballer," Rivaldo said.

"I am free to go to any club including Real Madrid as I haven't signed any special clauses."

Real, however, have been doing their best to dampen any speculation about a potential bid for the Brazilian and Valdano said on Monday that the player did not feature in their plans for next season.

Sergio Cragnotti, president of Rome club Lazio, recently stated he hoped to bring Rivaldo to Italy as part of a swap deal with Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta.

Mendieta joined Barcelona on a one-year loan deal on Saturday and some reports in Italy have suggested Lazio may have secured an option on Rivaldo.

The Rome club's cash problems would appear to make a bid unlikely, however.

English premier league big-spenders Manchester United who just broke the British transfer record to sign Rio Ferdinand for £30 million and Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson who has made no secret of his admiration for the player are also likely to be monitoring the World Cup winner's developments.