Rivaldo deal 'dead', says Allardyce
Updated: 2004-05-08 10:22

Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce says his attempt to sign Brazil's World Cup winner Rivaldo is now 'dead in the water'.

Celtic have made an audacious bid to snatch Rivaldo from under the noses of English Premiership side Bolton - with the lure of Champions League football the bait offered to lure the Brazilian to Parkhead. [AFP]

Allardyce has not given up all hope of still pulling off a deal but has grown increasingly frustrated waiting for a decision from the 32-year-old player over a contract offer.

The former AC Milan and Barcelona forward, a free agent, returned home to Brazil after talks with the premier league club last month.

'We've had no word from him and I think it's dead in the water at the moment,' Allardyce told the premier league club's website on Friday.

'It's not 100 percent finished but looks very, very doubtful from our point of view.'

Rivaldo quit Cruzeiro at the end of February after less than two months at the Brazilian club when coach Wanderley Luxemburgo, who signed him, was sacked. He can sign for Bolton immediately if terms are agreed.

Scottish champions Celtic have also expressed an interest in signing a player whose star has been on the wane since he left Barcelona in June, 2002.

'Like anything else we'd prefer to keep these things quiet - we have been linked with so many players,' O'Neill told the BBC.

'But the truth is when somebody like Rivaldo becomes available you have got to be interested.'

Close

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Economy sees signs of cooling down         Follow Marco Polo's footprints, says Wen         Rumsfeld apologizes for Iraq prison abuse         China to diversify foreign exchange reserves         Female soldier charged in Iraq abuse case         Mars scientists find tempting new rocks	Rivaldo deal 'dead', says Allardyce       Schumi and Button set the pace       Lakers need to figure out Spurs' Parker       Chelsea: Hello Jose, bye Claudio       Alleged Beckham mistress scores TV gig       ACL: Siljak fires up Dalian Shide 's ambitions