Stoichkov heads back to Barcelona

Stoichkov heads back to Barcelona

The Bulgarian international striker Hristo Stoichkov has returned to his former club Barcelona after an unhappy season at the Italian club Parma, according to the Italian press. The Barcelona vice-chairman Joan Gaspart, who appointed the former England manager Bobby Robson as coach at the end of last season, said the club had bought Stoichkov back for less than half the amount Parma paid a year ago. "We realise that he had other important offers but he wanted to come home," Gaspart added. Stoichkov frequently clashed with the former Barcelona coach Johann Cruyff during his previous stint at the club. No details have been disclosed but Parma are expected to receive pounds 2.2m for the Bulgarian, a fraction of the reported pounds 10m the club paid for him in July 1995. Brazilian television has reported that the striker Romario will return to Spain next month to play for Valencia under a pounds 5.2m, three-year contract.