CARLOS MARINELLI'S Middlesbrough misery was finally brought to an end last night when the Riverside outfit terminated his contract by mutual consent.

The Argentinian - dubbed the new Diego Maradona when he arrived on Teesside from Boca Juniors in 1999 - has never lived up to his original billing.

Marinelli cost Boro, managed by Bryan Robson at the time, an inflated £1.5m transfer fee and as a teenager he was tipped to become a massive hit on the world stage.

But under McClaren, the South American has rarely shown the talent he was known to possess.

The Boro boss, who tried hard to offload Marinelli to Italy in the summer, has finally ran out of patience with the 21-year-old and agreed to bring to an end his contract, which is due to run out at the end of the campaign anyway.

McClaren said: "We wish Carlos all the best but felt this was the right decision, both for the player and the club.

''Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to fulfil the potential he showed at a younger age, which convinced the club to bring him here four years ago.

''Carlos had a spell on loan with Torino last season and we made him available for transfer over the summer. Unfortunately, a move did not materialise at the time and there has been no interest shown from other clubs since then.''

After a summer move to Italy broke down, Marinelli returned to Boro in pre-season and was given a new lease of life as Juninho took him under his wing.

On the opening day of the campaign Marinelli struck the opening goal in a 3-2 reversal at Fulham, but he has not kicked another ball in the Premiership since. He scored five goals in 55 games for Boro and is thought to have flown back to his home land to consider his options.

Meanwhile, Stuart Parnaby has now set his sights on removing Danny Mills from the Boro right-back slot after achieving his first target.

Parnaby, due to return to full training on Monday after a serious knee injury, had become a regular in McClaren's first team and helped Boro gain a miserly reputation.

But the 20-year-old suffered injury heartache when he was ruled out for months when he tore a cruciate ligament on August 30.

Parnaby has been in light training and now he hopes to make a quick return to Premiership action when he returns to full fitness.

However, Mills has now established himself as Boro's right-back after impressing since arriving on loan until the end of the season from Leeds.

And the England international has insisted he will be at the Riverside for the full duration of his temporary switch, despite the sacking of Peter Reid at Elland Road.

That means Parnaby faces the task of dislodging Mills from his favoured role but he is ready for the challenge ahead.

"I was looking forward to the challenge once Danny came in but unfortunately I got the injury and I haven't been able to do anything," said the England Under-21 defender.

"But I'll get back and push him. He's an England international so I'm not surprised he's settled so easily, I expected him to come in and be able to cope with anything.

"It's going to be hard but it's something you have to do and something I'm willing to do to get back."

Boro midfielder George Boateng has wished his country well in their European Championship qualifier first leg with Scotland this afternoon.

The Dutchman has not been named in Dick Advocaat's squad for the vital match, but he is determined to make the trip to Portugal for Euro 2004.

Boateng said: "I believe the players that Advocaat has picked will do a job and I hope they do. I still want to force my way back into his plans."

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