By Barney Spender
ATHENS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Former Brazil striker Rivaldo
has stunned AEK Athens by announcing that he is leaving the
Greek club after just one season to join an Asian team.
The 36-year-old did not name the club but Greek media
reports indicated it was the Uzbekistan side Bunyodkor, who
last month claimed they had signed Cameroon striker Samuel
Eto’o.
“It was a difficult decision to make but I have received an
offer that is very good for my career,” the World Cup winner
told Greek radio station Novosport FM on Tuesday.
“I had a great time at AEK. I thank the president and the
fans but the offer is very good for me and my family.
“It is a very good proposal and I cannot turn it down. I
would like to ask for a million apologies because there is so
little time in the transfer window for the club to replace me
but it was an exceptional proposal.”
AEK, however, insist that Rivaldo will not leave unless
coach Georgos Donis can sign a replacement.
“Rivaldo wants to leave but in spite of what he says, he
remains under contract to AEK until the end of this season and
will only go if the club gets a replacement,” a club spokesman
told Reuters.
“If he does go it will be with a transfer fee and not as a
free transfer.”
AEK face Cypriot side Omonia in the second leg of their
second round UEFA Cup qualifying tie on Thursday hoping to
overturn a 1-0 deficit.
Rivaldo, who was a member of the Brazil side that won the
World Cup in 2002, arrived in Greece in 2004 and spent three
seasons at Olympiakos before moving to AEK at the start of the
last campaign.
(Editing by John O’Brien)