Croatian international striker Mladen Petric is to leave Bundesliga strugglers Hamburg at the end of the season after they decided not to extend his contract on Monday.
The 31-year-old - who has scored 60 goals in 127 games for Hamburg since joining in 2008 from Borussia Dortmund - had wanted to stay but the club decided they wanted to focus more on blooding younger players and restructuring the wage bill.
"It was important to clarify the situation as quickly as possible," said the club's Danish sporting director Frank Arnesen.
"Mladen has scored a lot of goals for Hamburg, and he is still an important player but we have opted for another route," he added.
Petric, who has had a wretched season with injuries and played just six times, said while he was disappointed at least he knew he could plan for the future.
"I would have liked to have signed a long-term contract but it is not possible at Hamburg," said the 44-times capped striker.
"At least the decision has been taken and I can look to the future."
Hamburg face a relegation battle as a 4-0 defeat by Stuttgart on Saturday leaves them just five points above the relegation places.
Source: AFP
