European champions AC Milan said on Monday that Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo was staying with them after all, despite last week agreeing to cancel the player's contract.
"Rivaldo remains at Milan and tomorrow will leave with the squad for Vigo," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told the club's official website after a meeting with the player on Monday.
Milan face Celta Vigo in the Champions League on Wednesday and Rivaldo has been named in a travelling party of 21 players.
After announcing on Friday that he was leaving Milan, with the club's blessing, Rivaldo, who has not featured for Milan in Serie A or the Champions League this season, had said he was considering offers from English clubs.
But on Sunday, after the Brazilian was given a warm 'send off' from Milan fans at the San Siro before the 3-0 win over Lecce, Galliani asked him to reconsider his decision.
The documents relating to the cancellation of the player's contract had not been lodged with the Italian Football Federation, and so Rivaldo remains under contract.
While the former Barcelona forward's decision to stay with Milan is a remarkable turnaround, it means, at the very least, the player can keep in training and match fitness until the transfer window opens in January.
Had he left Milan now and become a free agent, he would not have been able to play for a new club for three months. Such a lengthy absence from competitive football might have brought his place in the Brazilian national side into question.
His future now depends on whether or not he can gain a regular starting place in the Milan line-up and few doubt that, if he is still on the fringes when the transfer market re-opens, he will look for a new team.
The Brazilian, who arrived in Italy fresh from helping Brazil win the 2002 World Cup, was left on the bench for the semi-finals and final of last season's Champions League, which Milan won on penalties against Juventus in May.
