Giovanni van Bronckhorst has unexpectedly decided to call it a day at Barça and has agreed to sign for Feyenoord where he previously played from 1994 to 1998. He moved to Barça in the summer of 2003 as the one request that Frank Rijkaard made when he arrived as coach. Gio has been Rijkaard’s preferred left-back ever since, though he has had a battle with Sylvinho for the place. He will always be remembered as part of the team that beat Arsenal 2-1 in Paris to clinch last season’s Champions League Final.

Gio had one year left on his contract but has decided to use a get-out clause in his contract which means he will not cost Feyenoord a penny. The probable arrival of Eric Abidal may have made up Gio’s mind. As a consequence, there is now the possibility that Sylvinho will stay at the club when I had him down as a certain leaver this summer.