Manchester United may have splashed the cash on Rio Ferdinand, but the biggest transfer coup of the year was secured last night by AC Milan.
The Italian giants snapped up the services of Brazilian star Rivaldo on a free transfer, having agreed a three-year contract worth a reported €4.8million a season with the World Cup winner.
Rivaldo's move to Italy comes just a week after his shock departure from Barcelona, where he was released from his contract after five seasons at the Nou Camp.
The 30-year-old had recently been linked with moves to Real Madrid, Lazio and Newcastle United but Milan managed to clinch the player's signature.
The club's website, www.acmilan.com, confirmed the news: "It's official! Vitor Borba Ferreira Rivaldo, one of the greatest players of the world, signed the contract linking him to Milan for the next three years."
Rivaldo, who will link up with his new team-mates in Italy on August 1st, had been in talks with Milan general director Ariedo Braida, who flew out to Sao Paulo to negotiate directly with the former World Player of the Year.
Braida, speaking from Brazil, said on the club's television channel: "We have always had everything clear in our minds to take this outstanding player to AC Milan. We did everything we can do, and now we are very satisfied."
The news has certainly pleased Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, who last summer splashed the cash on Rui Costa, Cosmin Contra, Javi Moreno and Filippo Inzaghi among others but was only rewarded with a fourth-placed finish in Serie A.
Rivaldo scored 86 goals during his time at Barcelona, but despite this he never really won over the fans at the Nou Camp. They accused him of saving his best performances for Brazil, with whom he won the World Cup last month.
The decision to terminate his contract was reached by mutual consent between the club and player. The return of Louis van Gaal to the club this summer was an ominous sign that Rivaldo's time with the Catalans was coming to a close.
Rivaldo's Brazilian team-mate Ronaldo yesterday hit back at criticism from coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who branded him "spoilt" while claiming the player would never return to the form he showed prior to a catalogue of knee injuries.
Ronaldo's two goals in the World Cup final a month ago secured his country a fifth World Cup and he finished tournament top scorer with eight goals.
So the 25-year-old Inter Milan striker felt justified in firing off a riposte to Scolari via a statement on his website.
"I feel much better - I feel I am at 200 per cent," insisted Ronaldo in response to Scolari's claim that he would "never again be 100 per cent". The striker said: "I go on and come off the pitch without feeling any pain. That's how I was able to turn in great performances at the World Cup."
Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Carr was the one bright spot for Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle after his side succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at QPR yesterday.
The Spurs full back missed the whole of last season with a knee injury but he looked back to his best in a poor team performance his coach will want to forget.
Carr's comeback stalled because of a groin problem he picked up during a rehabilitation programme, but he stood out in only his third game back.
Hoddle said: "I was delighted with Stephen Carr. He played 55 minutes yesterday and did well again today.
"We were going to give him 45 minutes but he looked so sharp we kept him on and he made a couple of good runs. After that he said enough is enough and we took him off."
