Judge Marco Antonio dos Santos decided to terminate the contract between the team and the player, who has no more responsibilities to the club where he has played for the last two years.

The 23-year-old attacker Nilmar, who is recovering from a second knee ligament injury in two years, was signed by Lyon from Internacional in 2004, initially as cover for the now ex-Lyon player Giovanni Elber, but one year later he went back to Brazil to join Corinthians on loan.

At the end of the one-year loan deal, Corinthians decided to pay the full transfer fee and keep the player.

But Nilmar decided to take Corinthians to court after the forward claimed he had not been paid correctly according to his contract.

"Nilmar can play for any other team. Among a number of demands we were claiming, the judge accepted a good part of them," said Nilmar's representing lawyer Andre Ribeiro.

Corinthians are still obliged to pay the $13million they still owe to Lyon following a decision made by the world's governing body FIFA.

Though Corinthians can appeal, if Nilmar is signed by any other club in the world he will not be punished.