Top Price for Ferdinand
The drawn-out battle over Rio Ferdinand reached its foregone conclusion Sunday when Leeds United agreed to sell the England national team player to Manchester United for $47 million, a deal that will make Ferdinand the most expensive defender in soccer history.
The transfer fee is a British record for any player, surpassing the $45 million that Manchester United paid Lazio for Argentina national team midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron only a year ago.
Leeds United was reluctant to let Ferdinand go, and twice turned down lesser offers from Manchester United. In the end, though, Ferdinand, 23, was determined to switch to a club that he believes will give him a better chance of playing in top-level competition.
“I just feel I need [European] Champions League football to help my career,” Ferdinand told England’s Sun tabloid newspaper last week. “A footballer has a short career, and you have to make the most of your opportunities.”
In the end, Leeds, which finished fifth in the English Premier League last season and therefore failed to qualify for the Champions League, could neither deny Ferdinand nor turn down the $47 million, a figure 30% higher than Manchester United’s initial offer.
“I did not want to sell Rio Ferdinand, but he asked for a transfer last week and when your captain says he does not want to play for your club, there comes a time when you have to make a decision and move on,” Peter Ridsdale, Leeds United’s chairman, told Sky Sports on Sunday.
“I feel a mixture of disappointment and some elation that the deal has been completed.”
The previous record-holder as the world’s most expensive defender was France national team player Lilian Thuram, who was bought by Juventus from Parma last year for $35.4 million.
Leeds United made a $19-million profit on Ferdinand, who still had four years remaining on his Leeds United contract. The club purchased him from West Ham United for $28 million in November 2000.
Rivaldo Released by Barcelona
Rivaldo, whose five goals at Korea/Japan ’02 helped Brazil win the World Cup only three weeks ago, was given his unconditional release by Barcelona, in essence a free transfer that allows him to join any club in the world without that club having to pay Barcelona anything.
Rivaldo, the FIFA world player of the year and European player of the year as recently as 1999, was acquired by Barcelona from fellow Spanish team Deportivo La Coruna for $26.7 million in 1997. He still had one year remaining on his contract when he was released.
“Both sides believe that this decision is in their best interests,” Barcelona said in a statement on the club’s Web site.
Rivaldo, 30, helped Barcelona win two Spanish championships but was ineffective last season and the return of Coach Luis Van Gaal, who had had run-ins with the Brazilian during his first tenure as coach of the Catalan club, signaled the end for Rivaldo.
His departure became likely once Barcelona signed Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme earlier in the month and certain once Barcelona acquired Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta on a one-year loan from Lazio on Saturday.
Spanish newspapers speculated Sunday that Rivaldo, who earns $7.5 million a year, could join fellow Brazilian Roberto Carlos at Real Madrid, although a move to Lazio also is possible.
U.S. Women Down Norway
Cindy Parlow scored two goals, Tiffeny Milbrett had a goal and two assists and Mia Hamm scored in the final minute as the U.S. women’s national team shut out Norway, 4-0, Sunday in a friendly match in Blaine, Minn.
The victory ended the Norwegians’ four-game winning streak over the U.S. Norway still holds an 18-14-2 edge in the all-time series between the reigning world and Olympic champions.
Maldini Confirms Retirement
Paolo Maldini, Italy’s national team captain and all-time appearance leader, confirmed what he had said after the World Cup, that he is retiring from international competition.
Italy Coach Giovanni Trapattoni had tried to get Maldini to delay his retirement until after the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, but was rebuffed.
“I have thought a lot about the national side, and my decision has not changed,” Maldini said. “Trapattoni and my teammates have tried to change my mind, but the fundamental thing is that someone who is 34 years of age cannot think about playing in the European Championship in 2004.”
