Former Brazilian striker Luizão was yesterday allowed to leave Rio club Botafogo, after being told that he was no longer guaranteed a regular first team place.
Botafogo president Bebeto de Freitas stated in a press conference:“I want to make it clear that Luizão always behaved correctly with Botafogo.
“However, due to the impossibility of being able to promise him first team football, we decided to terminate his contract in an agreeable manner. The contract had half a year remaining, but as he initiated the proceedings, and we have to watch our salaries these days, we won’t have to pay anything else to him.”
Luizão, real name Luiz Claudio, played 15 games in his time at Botafogo, scoring 9 goals in that time.
However, his time at the General Severiano Stadium was beset by injury problems, and he had to have two operations on his right knee this year.
He was a member of Brazil’s World Cup winning side in 2002.
