One hurdle prevented Middlesbrough landing shock AC Milan deal - player missed out on historic silverware | OneFootball

Rivaldo was one of the biggest names in world football in the summer of 2003, and Middlesbrough were looking to sign him.

Middlesbrough's golden era during the early 2000s saw numerous stars of the game descend on the Riverside Stadium.

Juninho, Gaizka Mendieta, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka; Teesside was treated to some truly fantastic footballers during this time in the club's history.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson was a driving force behind the big-name additions, and he wasn't afraid to throw Boro's hat in the ring in an attempt to land his team a superstar.

Even Barcelona great Ronaldinho was the subject of a £10m bid from Middlesbrough in December 2007, and had Gibson had it his way, a fellow Brazilian icon would have joined the Riverside revolution a couple of years earlier too.

Middlesbrough linked with shock move for AC Milan and Brazil star, Rivaldo

In the summer of 2003, there were few attacking midfielders in world football better than Rivaldo.

A Ballon d'Or winner in 1999, as well as a two-time Brazilian player of the year and 2002 World Cup winner; he truly was one of the biggest names in the sport.

He would start his career in his homeland of Brazil with Santa Cruz, before joining one of the nation's biggest clubs, Palmeiras, in 1994. Deportivo La Coruna would bring him to Spanish shores in 1996, but after just one season there, Barcelona came calling.

Between 1997-2002, he would play over 230 times for the Catalan club, scoring 130 goals and providing 46 assists, establishing himself as one of the finest players in the game during that period.

Come the summer of 2003 and now an AC Milan player, it was believed that the Serie A giants were keen to offload him even if it meant losing him for nothing after just one season, and were pedalling his name to clubs across European football.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren was looking for ways to further strengthen his squad that summer, and clearly spotted an opportunity to do so with Rivaldo. "Next season we have to create a strong team," he was quoted as saying at the time.

"Rivaldo? If he remains free, then there is a good possibility." With those comments, Middlesbrough appeared to be firmly in the running for his signature. Which begged the question: 'Could they really attract one of the game's biggest stars to the North East of England?'

Middlesbrough's Rivaldo pursuit falls through due to one key reason

For a while, Teesside was dreaming of Rivaldo in red and white, as well as forming a deadly Brazilian partnership with "The Little Fella", Juninho. But, they would soon see those hopes dashed.

It was understood that he was searching for an £80,000-a-week contract with his new club, and that was enough to price Middlesbrough out of any potential deal.

He would remain with AC Milan until early 2004, before he would eventually call time on his San Siro career in order to complete a move to Brazilian side Cruzeiro.

It's probably safe to assume that Rivaldo doesn't toss and turn at night, regretting not joining Middlesbrough in the summer of 2003, but had he done, he would've added to his large and illustrious trophy cabinet with the Teessiders.

That's because Boro would be crowned Carling Cup (League Cup) champions that season, defeating Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in late February 2004, landing their first silverware.

So, were Middlesbrough ever genuine contenders for Rivaldo's signature? Probably not. But had he made a move to Teesside, it would surely still be remembered to this day as one of football's all-time biggest transfer coups.