Van Nistelrooy to leave Hamburg

By foxsports
Published

Ruud van Nistelrooy says he will leave Hamburg at the end of the season because the Bundesliga club blocked his transfer to Real Madrid.

The Netherlands striker says "I'll go to another club" after Hamburg denied him a "romantic" return to Spain and a chance to work with Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.

The 34-year-old Van Nistelrooy played three seasons in Madrid, winning two league titles. He says in Wednesday's Marca newspaper that Madrid offered Hamburg ?2 million ($2.75 million) plus a friendly match, but the German club told him they "couldn't sell me, they need me."

With Van Nistelrooy unavailable, Madrid instead signed Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City on loan until June.