Dinamo Zagreb release Cufre, Papadopoulos

Croat champions Dinamo Zagreb said Tuesday they have released Argentina defender Leandro Cufre and Greek striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos who both joined the club earlier this year after poor performances.

“If the two players find new clubs they would be given papers and could leave without any compensation. However, I don’t know if they have any offers at the moment,” the club’s official Zdravko Mamic told journalists.

The reasons for the move are their unsatisfactory performances but also a financial crisis.

Cufre, 31, joined Dinamo Zagreb in August arriving from German side Hertha Berlin on a two-year deal.

He gained notoriety at the 2006 World Cup finals by becoming the first player to be red-carded after the final whistle when as an unused substitute he attacked Germany’s Per Mertesacker after Argentina had lost their quarter-final against the hosts 4-2 on penalties.

Cufre moved to Europe from Argentina outfit Gimnasia La Plata in 2002 and had spells with AS Roma, Siena and Monaco before his brief time with Hertha.

The 28-year-old Papadopoulos arrived in Zagreb in July from Italy’s Serie B Lecce.

Dinamo Zagreb reached the midway point of the league season in first place with 39 points.