HSV manager threatens to transfer Mahdavikia to other club

IRNA - Hamburger SV sports manager Dietmar Beiersdorfer has openly threatened to transfer Mehdi Mahdavikia to another team if Asia's Player of the Year 2003 continues to play poorly in the coming Bundesliga matches, the daily Hamburger Morgenpost reported Tuesday.

"The actual disappointment is the fact that he (Mahdavikia) has permanently remained below his great capabilities. And he also does not really try to change it. The player seems to have a strong and blatant wrong assessment with regards to his own performance," Beiersdorfer said.

"We will soon talk to Mehdi and his advisor (Reza Fazeli). If it is not possible to achieve a unified point of view, one has to think what to do next," he added.

Asked by a reporter whether this means that Mahdavikia whose contract runs until-mid 2007, would leave the team this summer, Beiersdorfer replied, "Yes."
Earlier Hamburger SV coach Thomas Doll had harshly criticized Mahdavikia for his dismal performance during his team's 1-1 draw against lowly SC Freiburg on Saturday.

A reserve player for almost eight months, the former Persepolis striker who earns 2.3 million euros a year in Hamburg, has repeatedly expressed deep frustration over his substitute role.