Cruzeiro would be better off without Brazil international Rivaldo, who slowed up their attack, the club's vice-president Zeze Perella said on Sunday.

The World Cup winner quit the club on Saturday in solidarity with coach Vanderley Luxemburgo, who was fired the day before. Rivaldo had joined Cruzeiro in January and played only 10 competitive matches, scoring two goals.

"I think the team could improve without him because it's not a good moment for Rivaldo," Perella said in a radio interview.

"Rivaldo took the speed out of our attack because he wasn't in his best form."

But Perella also praised the player, who declined his wages for February.

"He is a sensational person, a dignified man who explained his reasons (for leaving), as he had joined us on the basis of Vanderley's work," Perella said.

Former Brazil coach Luxem-burgo, who led Cruzeiro to the Brazilian title last November, was fired on Friday, having offered his resignation in the morning and then changed his mind in the afternoon.

"We thought this was psychological pressure... and that we shouldn't accept this type of pressure," Perella said.

"Vanderley wanted to be involved in all the areas of the club and that wasn't comfortable for us.

"The relationship wasn't as good as last year and we thought it was time for him to leave."

The shock departures of Luxemburgo and Rivaldo came after a difficult week in which team captain Alex complained of a bad atmosphere within the club.

Cruzeiro have made an indifferent start to the season in which their priority is to win the Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of the Champions League, for the third time.

The players have already complained that they have still not been paid their bonuses for winning the Brazilian championship.

Rivaldo's plans remain a mystery but Brazilian media are speculating he could head for either Japan or the Middle East.

If he stayed in Brazil, he would not be able to play in any of the state championships, which form the prelude to the season and continue until late April, and is also ineligible to play for another team in the Libertadores.