Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro is set to leave Werder Bremen on a free transfer, the player announced Tuesday.
"It was a difficult decision because I love this team and the club, but I would like to do something new at the end of my career. I can't yet say what that will be, but I have several propositions that I have to consider," read a quote attributed to Pizarro on the Bundesliga website.
"We managed to retain him three times, the fourth wasn't possible," said sporting director Klaus Allofs.
"We are sorry but pleased that a final decision has been made. And I want to thank Claudio for the time spent together," Allofs added.
The Peru international, who played for Bremen between 1999 and 2001 before returning to the club in 2008 following spells at Bayern Munich and Chelsea, finished the 2011/12 campaign as the club's top scorer with 18 goals.
Pizarro also holds the Bundesliga record for most goals by a foreign player, having found the net 160 times.
Source: AFP
