Allardyce: Bolton can rescue Rivaldo

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce believes his backroom team could put Brazilian star Rivaldo’s career back on track if he joins the Barclaycard Premiership club.

The Reebok Stadium chief claims he is “quietly confident” of signing Rivaldo and insists he can get him “back to his old self in no time”.

In his column in The Times Allardyce said: “We have taken in all kinds of waifs and strays, people who were out of shape and out of sorts and we’ve turned them into proper players again.

“Sometimes it just comes down to putting an arm around a player and making him feel wanted again. Football can be a lonely environment when you are on a downer.

“Even the best players can feel lost when things turn against them which I think is what has happened in Rivaldo’s case.”

But Allardyce acknowledges time is running out and he needs a decision from Rivaldo.

“We’ve been waiting over a week now and we can’t hang on indefinitely. If we don’t get an answer soon we’ll have to start looking at other options but if I were in his shoes I would come here.”