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Real say Figo can move
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-02 08:56
Former World and European Player of the Year Luis Figo
will be allowed to leave Real Madrid if he wishes to move on, Spanish sports
daily Marca reported on Wednesday.
Portugal's former
European and world footballer of the year Luis Figo, seen here 28 May
2005, said he wanted to honour his contract with Real Madrid, after
unconfirmed reports that the Spanish giants had released the Portugal
forward. [AFP] |
Marca said the 32-year-old Portuguese international, who fell out with Real
coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo after being consigned to the bench for the latter
part of the season, had been given permission to negotiate with other clubs.
Figo, who has a year to run on his contract at Real, has made it clear that
he is unhappy at the way he has been treated by the club.
"The way they treated me when I was dropped wasn't right," he told Marca.
"They didn't tell me I wasn't going to play. It really hurt my pride."
Real's director of football Arrigo Sacchi said Figo's future in Madrid was in
the balance.
"I don't know whether he will stay," the Italian told Punto Radio.
"He's got a contract with us and I hope he stays because he could still be a
great player for us and he is a great professional.
"But I think his future depends more on him than it does on us...If he
continues to feel down about his situation then it won't be good for him or for
us."
Figo joined Real in 2000 in one of the most controversial transfers in the
history of Spanish football, when newly elected club president Florentino Perez
paid a then world record $56 million to buy him out of his contract with
arch-rivals Barcelona.
The midfielder, who is viewed as Real's first Galactico signing, helped guide
them to the league title in his first season at the club and played an important
part in their victories in the 2002 European Cup and the 2003 Spanish
championship.
He recently came out of international retirement and is training with the
Portugal squad preparing for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.
Marca reported that Serie A side Inter Milan were interested in signing Figo
and have also made enquiries about Real's Argentine internationals Santiago
Solari and Walter Samuel.
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