La Liga - Dudek set to leave Real

Eurosport - Wed, 07 May 13:25:00 2008

Jerzy Dudek has revealed that he intends to leave Real Madrid in the summer.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 La Liga Real Madrid Jerzy Dudek - 0

The 35-year-old goalkeeper was not selected by Poland coach Leo Beenhakker in the provisional 32-man squad for Euro 2008, and the former Liverpool player wants to leave in order to play regular first team football and regain his international place.

Dudek said: "I am proud to be a Real player and I am proud to win the Spanish title. Unfortunately, I did not have a big impact on this success.

"Being here and playing are two different things. I still have not made my debut in the league. When I came here I had higher expectations but Iker Casillas has had a fantastic season.

"I only received a chance to play in the Copa del Rey. But at least it was good that I was not sitting in the stands, but was together with the team all the time.

"I do not think that I will play in the next game against Barcelona. This game is too prestigious to experiment with the squad. I hope after that coach Schuster will rest the best players and I will get a chance to play. It will be nice to show myself in a Primera Division game before going for a holiday."

Dudek, who only joined Real last summer after two years as second choice at Anfield behind Jose Reina, is even willing to take a pay cut in order to facilitate a move.

He said: "I still have a year remaining and a 17 million minimum release-fee clause on my contract with Real.

"However, if there is a concrete offer I will leave for much less money. Real will not block my move. I can stay in Madrid and watch the success from the bench again. But I am eager to play football."

The hero of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final penalty shootout victory wants to play regularly again so that he can add to his 58 caps for Poland, the last of which came in the 3-1 home defeat against Finland in September 2006.

Dudek joked: "Oliver Kahn, who will finish his career at the end of the season, is 39 years old and in comparison with him I am still a youngster."

Pawel Dimow / Eurosport