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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