Summer clear-out at Barca
Tuesday, 25 May 2004 19:44Barcelona announced a major squad clear-out on Tuesday by revealing that Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Rustu Recber will leave the club this summer.
The move signals the club's intention to slash their wage bill, as well as plans to lower the average age of the squad over the coming months.
The news that the four Dutchmen will leave the club also underlines how coach Frank Rijkaard - a former Holland internationa has no room for sentiment ahead of his second year at the helm.
Rijkaard had good relations with the quartet of Dutch players but that counted for nothing as he decided against offering new contracts to Cocu and Reiziger.
The club have instructed Kluivert and Overmars to find new clubs, stressing that there is no future for them with Barca.
They remain in negotiations with Juventus' Edgar Davids, ( who may be on his way to Manchester United) another Dutchman, who has spent the second half of the season on loan at the Nou Camp.
Filed by James McMahon
