Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has accepted an offer to join Italian giants AC Milan and will sign a contract later today at Sao Paulo, the Italian press reported.
The club, owned by Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, are reported to be interested in signing the 30-year-old striker for a period of three years at €4.5 million a season.
Rivaldo, the 1999 World Footballer of the Year, parted company with Spanish giants Barcelona last weekend in a surprise move with a year still to run on his contract.
AC Milan director general Ariedo Braida travelled to Sao Paulo accompanied by two team officials Thursday and the deal was struck with the player's agents after seven hours of negotiations, Corriere della Sera said.
The Italian club had moved into action following the announcement that the Brazilian was leaving Barca with Berlusconi reported to have personally telephoned Real Madrid president Florentino Peres requesting that the Spanish rivals not try to up the bidding for the Brazilian.
Rivaldo is currently holidaying at his villa at Mogi Mirim and will travel to Sao Paulo to sign on the dotted line. - AFP