Rivaldo dropped

The future of European player of the year Rivaldo was thrown into doubt yesterday when he was dropped from the Barcelona first team following a row with coach Louis van Gaal.

The Brazilian, who was confirmed as the winner of the prestigious France Football prize on Monday, is not in the squad for today's Spanish first division match against Rayo Vallecano. Van Gaal explained that Rivaldo had said he no longer wanted to play on the left side of the attack and wanted a more central role.

"Yesterday Rivaldo spoke to me and said he no longer wanted to play on the left. Because of that, he's been left out of the squad," van Gaal told reporters.

"It was a surprise for me and a surprise for his team-mates. It's a great shame. Barcelona has always had the philosophy that the club comes ahead of everyone - the players, the coach and all the employees."

AC Milan have agreed the signing of Spanish under-21 striker Jose Mari Romero from Atletico Madrid for a Spanish record fee of 3,200 million pesetas (£15 million).

Also in Spain, national coach Jose Antonio Camacho has had his contract extended till after the 2002 World Cup.

Everton may be nearing the end of 12 months of uncertainty, as theatre impresario Bill Kenwright is ready to launch his bid for control at Goodison Park today. Kenwright is to make an official, written offer, of around Stg £21m for Peter Johnson's 68 per cent stake which would value the club at just £32m.

Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson yesterday issued another handsoff warning to Marseille over their bid to sign defender Franck Dumas, who has backed the move. "He's over here with his agent and the agent thinks all hehas to do is take him away. We are putting the agent straight," Robson said.

Spanish national coach Jose Antonio Camacho has agreed a two-year extension to his contract, which will now run until the World Cup finals in 2002. Camacho, who took over the job from Javier Clemente in September 1998, had said he wanted to wait until after Euro 2000 before making a decision.

But endless speculation in the Spanish media over a possible return to Real Madrid, the club he coached for 22 days in the summer of 1998, put pressure on him to make an early commitment. "I already had a verbal agreement to stay on and that's been made official," Camacho said yesterday. "They made me a formal offer and I've accepted it."

Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu has urged John Gregory to bring controversial striker Stan Collymore back into his first-team plans - if the player can prove he is totally committed to the club.Collymore could be an ideal replacement for Dion Dublin, who will be out of action for at least three months after breaking his neck.