Van Nistelrooy set for Hamburg exit

Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will leave the club at the end of the season after being denied a return to Real Madrid, his agent says.

The 34-year-old Dutchman has been the subject of two transfer bids from former club Real this month, both of which have been rejected by Hamburg.

As a result, Van Nistelrooy’s agent, Rodger Linse, says that his client will not extend his contract at Hamburg when it runs out at the end of the season.

“A contract extension with Hamburg can now be ruled out. This is not possible any more,” Linse told the Hamburger Morgenpost.

“He cannot understand it (why Hamburg did not let him go) and he has got a problem with it. It is very, very painful,” Linse said.

“It is sad because Hamburg have no idea what they are doing to Ruud with this decision.”

A prolific goalscorer at former clubs PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and Real, Van Nistelrooy netted 46 goals in 68 games during his three-and-a-half-year stay in the Spanish capital.

He made the switch from Real to Hamburg in January 2010 and has scored six goals in the current Bundesliga campaign, which sees Hamburg sit in sixth position, 17 points adrift of leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Real are eager to sign a striker as cover for Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, who is out for several months following back surgery.