RIVALDO SET TO HAVE SURGERY

Rivaldo will recuperate in Brazil, spending three weeks in his home country going through a  specific fitness plan, worked out by the CBF's doctors.

Brazilian medical boss Jose Luiz Runco stated: "Within three weeks, the player will be totally recuperated."

Doctors from all the teams involved met with the player to try and agree a consensus in a six man conference.  Barcelona sporting director Anton Parera said: "We think it's the best for the player and, in addition, for Barcelona."

Rivaldo had already announced his intention to have surgery, saying: "I keep working to recuperate, I'm doing some medical examinations to know my situation and at no moment have I thought of passing on surgery. 

"I want to be well in three weeks, as the doctor said.  If I pass on the surgery, the time out would be longer.  I know it's a complicated situation because everybody is saying that I got injured playing for the national squad. 

"But I had played a lot of matches for Barcelona feeling pain and that's what happened the other day with Brazil.  Now I feel sad for not being able to help my mates in their matches."

Brazilian squad coach Luiz Felipe Scolari confirmed that he asked Rivaldo if he was able to play and the player accepted: "It wasn't my imposition nor the doctors.  He wanted to play.  I asked him if he wanted substituting and he confirmed he wanted to play."