IRNA - Iranian international Mehdi Mahdavikia
reaffirmed his strong opposition to a "forced transfer" after Hamburger SV
sports manager Dietmar Beiersdorfer told him to search for a new club.
"No one in Hamburg can force me to a transfer. I have a contract with HSV
until 2006 which I will also fulfill," the former Persepolis star was quoted
as saying.
Mahdavikia's football future at the north German club appears to have come
to a premature end, after Hamburg signed Ajax star Rafael van der Vaart for
the coming season.
Asia's Player of the Year 2003 has struggled all season to land a starting
place with Hamburg despite superb performances with the Iranian team in
their Asian World Cup qualifying campaign.
Mahdavikia, who is in his sixth HSV season, earns around 2.3 million euros a
year.
