Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb will be without a team at the end of the year after his current club Wolfsburg revealed that they will not be renewing his contract when it ends later on this month.
Hleb who struggled to assert himself in the Barcelona line up was eventually loaned out to Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in August on a short term switch that was meant to improve his fitness and form after an injury prone post Arsenal career.
According to Wolfsburg Boss Felix Magath, Hleb who has only made 4 appearances for the club will leave in the winter break.
“It’s very, very unfortunate,” Magath said.
“I would have gladly exercised the option to keep Alex but with the injury problems he has had we cannot do that. If he was 100% fit he would have helped us with his quality.”
Barcelona on the other hand have already made it clear that they do not need his services and that he does not feature in their future plans. Some very harsh words if you think that they paid 17 million Euros for his services.
At 30 and with no promising prospects, Hleb’s future does indeed look bleak. Speaking to the press after news of his imminent departure from Wolfsburg broke, this is what he had to say:
“I was looking to get back to full fitness and reclaim my previous form. This setback has hit me hard.”
So what are his choice? No club is yet to show any interest in him probably because of his injury situation and until he receives any offers, i would suggest that he does what many of his peers are doing and that is join a club that offers him the biggest incentive and by that i mean money
Talk of him moving back to the Premier League are very far fetched and next to impossible as no manager would want to have a player that cannot perform for his team.
It is a shame to see such a brilliant talent end at such a young age, however, that is the nature of the game. I am personally saddened by the turn of events for Hleb. This is yet another player joining the rapidly growing group of ageing players hanging up their boots.
Photo Credit © songinth4