The wishes of a number of professionals from various clubs in the Bundesliga to head off and take part in the Olympic Games in Peking is still an issue at the training camp on Norderney. General manager Klaus Allofs, who arrived on the island on Thursday, commented on the situation: “Our decision not to release Diego has still not led to the expected repose. Be it in Hoffenheim, Hamburg or at Schalke, you can read the same headlines everywhere. We are going to have to sit down with Diego once again to explain the situation,” stated Allofs, who took the opportunity to make his position clear.
“I am responsible for ensuring that the best possible team turn out to play for Werder. If there is no obligation for me to release players, then we will be keeping Diego here. Diego is a Brazilian ‘A’ national player, he is very important to us and not a not a cheap player either. I can understand his personal wish but we are involved in professional football here, for which there are regulations which have to be accepted.” Allofs continued determinedly: “We too have to stick to these arrangements. We allowed Diego to go away in summer and play two World Cup qualifiers and a game for the Olympic selection.”
“Of course he can be disappointed, and show that too, but after a couple of days he needs to get on with it and channel his thoughts towards new things. Thus far he has always behaved very professionally in such situations,” said Allofs. Werder would also have to behave professionally if releasing players for the Olympics was to come to a recommended requirement from FIFA: Allofs on the matter: “If things were to take a turn in that direction, which doesn’t appear likely at the moment, then that would be a situation that we would also have to accept.”