Ridsdale has revealed that he was offered the chance to sign the 30-year-old Brazilian striker from Spanish giants Barcelona.
"I got a telephone call from an agent acting on behalf of Barcelona who wanted to know if we would be interested in signing Rivaldo, but we said that we didn't want him," Ridsdale told the Yorkshire Post newspaper.
"The situation regarding his wages was an issue, but you also have to consider whether or not he would be suited to the team and English football."