van der Vaart: I want out

Rafael van der Vaart has insisted that he is leaving Hamburg as soon as possible. Several Spanish sides submitted offers for the Dutchman during the summer, which were all rebuffed by his German club. However, he has now reiterated his desire to leave.

"I want to go to Spain, and that is the end of it," revealed Van der Vaart. "In May, (club president Bernd) Hoffmann came to me and asked how they could make me happier.

"I said that I wanted to move to Spain and that I would always like to consider any such offers, and he agreed. Then a team came in, and suddenly I am not for sale at any price.

"I arrived for five million euros and then HSV could have earned 22, and nobody at the club wanted to discuss it. I cannot understand that."