Rivaldo: I love Uzbekistan and have many friends there, I regret how everything ended
Rivaldo's lawyer Luis Pereyra shared details about the player's time in Uzbekistan in an interview with Sporting Intelligence in 2011
In 2008, Rivaldo signed a contract with Bunyodkor, earning 6 million euros in the first year, plus advertising revenue, totaling 7.1 million euros.
After a few months, the player received an offer to extend his contract for two years, which he accepted, committing to the club until 2011.
Rivaldo stated that he intended to transform the local Uzbek club into a regional or even bigger team.
However, starting from the summer of 2009, Rivaldo stopped receiving payments.
According to his lawyer, the issue was not significant, just a matter of cash, and despite it being unusual, the Brazilian star was not worried.
However, the wait dragged on for months, then years, and Rivaldo, who had brought several young Brazilian players to the club, took responsibility for their salaries and paid them out of his own pocket.
The club's sponsor, Zeromax, also stopped paying for the Brazilian players' hotel expenses.
By July 2010, Rivaldo was forced to take legal action.
Zeromax also faced financial difficulties around the same time.
"I love Uzbekistan and have many friends there. I regret how everything ended," Rivaldo said.
The Brazilian player claimed he was owed $16 million by Zeromax and intended to testify in an upcoming court case in Switzerland.
During this period, the club's sponsor, Zeromax, had appointed Zico, and then Skolari, as coaches.
"They offered Samuel Eto'o $25 million for a one-season stint at the club and paid $1 million for the Spanish star's one-time visit to Tashkent," the publication wrote.