Nigerian international striker Victor Agali has criticised his German club Schalke 04 for deeming him surplus to requirements on his premature return from the 2004 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Marksman Agali, 25, was one of three players sent home early by Nigerian coach Christain Chukwu for breaking curfew rules - although he was later asked to return - and now faces a crisis at club level after his international debacle.
"Rudi Assauer (Schalke's general manager) told me I should go to FC Basel but that was all too sudden for me," Agali told German magazine Kicker.
"Before the winter break they wanted to extend my contract so that I would not leave on a free transfer."
Agali is out of contract at the end of the season after joining Schalke in
"I am disappointed by Assauer," fumed Agali. "No-one has scored as many goals for Schalke in the past two seasons as I have.
"I even missed international games for the benefit of the club."
Despite missing the banished trio of Agali, Celestine Babayaro and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nigeria have managed to reach the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations where they will face hosts Tunisia.