EUROPEAN SOCCER: European champions AC Milan have released Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo from his contract, leaving him free to find a new club when the transfer market re-opens.

Milan said in a statement yesterday they had ended the contract, which had another 18 months to run, by "common accord".

A similar arrangement, which means the Serie A joint leaders will not be able to ask for a transfer fee for the player, was agreed in September before the 31-year-old forward had a change of heart and decided to stay with the club.

But since agreeing to stay on in September, Rivaldo has made one substitute appearance in the Champions League and has not featured in Serie A.

Rivaldo said in September he was weighing up a number of offers from English Premiership clubs, but a return to Spain, where he made his name with Deportivo Coruna before enjoying five seasons with Barcelona, could be another option.

Although he is now available on a free transfer, Rivaldo's enormous wages - he was among the top earners in Serie A - mean he would still be a substantial investment for any club.

Meanwhile, Juventus coach Marcello Lippi will field a largely second-string side for tonight's re-arranged Champions League Group D match against Turkey's Galatasaray in Dortmund.

With the Italian champions already qualified for the knockout phase, Lippi has opted to leave out French striker David Trezeguet, Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved and Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The Juve coach had already decided to leave striker Alessandro Del Piero back in Turin along with first-choice defenders Lilian Thuram and Nicola Legrottaglie. Gianluca Zambrotta misses the game with a hamstring injury.

Galatasaray are bottom of the group on three points and need a win to maintain their hopes of progressing.