Newcastle consider £8m Rivaldo deal

Newcastle United are weighing up an £8million-a-year package to land Brazilian World Cup-winner Rivaldo on a 'free transfer'.

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson and chairman Freddy Shepherd have asked Barcelona for a full breakdown of Rivaldo's wages after the midfielder confirmed his intention to quit the Spanish club. AC Milan have already had a £3m wages package rejected by the Brazilian, who is determined to quit the Nou Camp following the return of Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.

The Newcastle board, who were offered Rivaldo and his Barcelona team-mate Patrick Kluivert during the World Cup Finals, are now considering whether to put a more lucrative offer to the former World Footballer of the Year.

Although his £150,000-plus a week wages will make Newcastle's plc nervous, directors are weighing up the marketing and merchandising potential for a world-class player who is unlikely to be with the Barcelona squad which travels to St James' Park for a friendly on August 7. Rivaldo has made it clear that the return of coach Van Gaal to Barcelona is the reason behind his decision to part company with the Catalan club.

Rivaldo said: 'Van Gaal is the main cause of my departure. I don't like Van Gaal and I am sure that he doesn't like me either.' During the former Holland coach's last spell in charge at Barcelona between 1997-2000, Rivaldo challenged his coach's authority by demanding to play in the centre rather than on the left wing.

Van Gaal won the battle of wills and Rivaldo was forced to apologise for his comments after sitting out two games. Barcelona have avoided the possibility of another embarrassing dispute by deciding to release Rivaldo from his contract with a year still left to run.