IRNA - German Bundesliga club VfL Bochum is no longer insisting on keeping Iranian striker Vahid Hashemian who has apparently fallen out favor with coach Marcel Koller over his strong criticism of lack of playing time, the online site of Kicker sports magazine said.

Hashemian can leave Bochum immediately, if a team is interested in signing him during the winter-break, according to the report.

Although Bochum announced last week that the former Hanover 96 player would join training camp on January 2, he is not likely to return to the team, the paper added.

The latest report is in stark contrast to remarks by VfL Bochum spokesman Christian Gruber who told IRNA last week there were 'no talks whatsoever about releasing the player'.

"Vahid has yet to settle down in the team because he was frequently injured," the team official said.

Gruber had also lashed out at the German daily Bild newspaper for 'hyping' the interview with Hashemian in which the soft-spoken Iranian international lamented about his reserve player role.

Hashemian was kicked off the team roster last week and barred from taking part in practice following his stinging criticism of Koller.

"Although I respect the decision of our coach, I am still rather upset about it," said Hashemian who has been held scoreless only in eight Bundesliga games this season.

He added his transfer from Hanover before the season was geared at 'helping the club (Bochum)'.

Hashemian has earlier urged Koller to have 'absolute faith in him'.

Bochum is facing a tough relegation battle as the squad is second from the bottom of the 18-team Bundesliga halfway into the 2008/9 Bundesliga season.

The 31-year-old Iranian national team forward whose earlier Bundesliga stops included also Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV, returned to Bochum from Hanover 96 in spring by signing a two-year contract with an option for an additional season.

Dubbed 'the helicopter' for his jumping abilities, Hashemian had already played for Bochum from 2001 until 2004.


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