Fans turn on Kluivert

Patrick Kluivert's contractual saga at the Nou Camp has clearly had an effect on his form, and now even the fans have turned on him.

The Barcelona and Holland striker was subject to taunts from the stands during Sunday's match against Rayo Vallecano and was taken off at half-time by coach Charly Rexach.

Barca fans are livid that Kluivert has been considering a move to enemies Real Madrid if his contract talks with the Catalan giants fall through.

The Dutch striker was jeered every time he touched the ball and was treated to chants of "money-grabber" from the terraces. Kluivert's response was to applaud the fans as he left the pitch to be replaced by Gabri Garcia de la Torre during the interval.

Coach Rexach defended Kluivert after the game saying: "Through my own experience, I know that players suffer on the pitch for declarations that have been badly interpreted in the papers".

"And it's very difficult to play in these circumstances. I've suffered the same kind of treatment myself in my career and I got over it, as I'm sure Kluivert will do."