Kluivert given all clear to buy out Barca contract

Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert is free to buy himself out of his contract for a cut-price fee after the Catalan club announced…

Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert is free to buy himself out of his contract for a cut-price fee after the Catalan club announced they had decided not to give him a bonus payment.

"Barcelona have told the player and his representatives of the decision not to pay the bonus for next season," the club said on their website today.

"Barcelona and the player's agent will meet in Barcelona next Wednesday to discuss the player's contract.

The Dutch international's contract is reported to include an arrangement whereby the buy-out clause will be reduced from €36 million euros to €1.8 million if the club refuse to pay him a special bonus of €4.6 million next season.

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Barcelona vice-president Sandro Rossell told radio station Ona Catalanaon Friday that the club had been put in a difficult position as a result of the deal the player had negotiated under former president Joan Gaspart.

"Our hands are tied by the contract and we have no choice but to abide by its terms," he said.

The 26-year-old striker joined Barcelona from AC Milan in 1998 and has scored 82 league goals in five seasons at the Catalan club.

English premier league sides Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle have all reportedly been interested in buying Kluivert.