Palmeiras said on Saturday that star forward Valdivia will leave the Brazilian soccer club for the United Arab Emirates club Al Ain as he has signed a four year contract.

The Chilean athlete helped the team to reach the Sao Paulo state champions after a 12 year drought.

"Everything is 100% certain. Valdivia signed his contract and only has to perform a regular physical and medical exams. We have already taken care of all the paper work in order for this transaction to take place," said the player's agent Joao Francisco.

The midfielder is considered to be one of the best players of this year's Brasileiro Championship. He was also hailed as the best player in the 2008 Sao Paulo state championship.

Valdivia left a special message for the Palmeiras fans on the team's website.

"As all of you know, I am leaving the Palmeiras soccer team. I am not sad by leaving because I know that I am putting an end to a job well done here. I thank the Palmeiras organization because they let me show my soccer skills to the world. I am very thankful to everyone at the club. And a very special thanks to you, the fan, who gave me the nickname of "the wiz". I am leaving Palmeiras as a professional soccer player because as a professional, father and husband, I cannot let this opportunity of financial security pass me up," the message said.

The decision to let the player go was made after an attempt to negotiate with the player was unsuccessful. The offer made by Al Ain was too hard to match and the Palmeiras soccer club had no other choice than to let Valdivia go.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2008)