IRNA - Mehdi Mahdavikia will honor his current
contract with Hamburg which is to expire in 2007 and has no plans whatsoever
to move to another team at the end of the season despite harsh criticism
over his performance by HSV management, Mahdavikia's advisor Reza Fazeli
said here in an interview with IRNA on Tuesday.
"Mehdi's contract with Hamburg is official and valid until 2007 and he will
fulfill it. At the moment he is only thinking about Hamburg and does not
think about changing teams," Fazeli added.
He was referring to local news reports last week that Hamburg's team
management was contemplating to release Asia's Player of the Year 2003 at
the end of this season following Mahdavikia's disappointing Bundesliga
performance this season.
"If the player does not agree to an early transfer, then the contract must
be fulfilled until 2007," stressed Fazeli who made clear that he and his
client felt deeply disturbed by the unusually "severe criticism" of HSV
sports manager Dietmar Beiersdorfer and coach Thomas Doll.
Fazeli confirmed that he is due to meet with HSV management this week to
discuss the latest developments in Mahdavikia's case.
"We also have a lot to talk about but we don't do it through the press but
will discuss it personally," he added.
