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BUNDESLIGA

Wolfsburg part ways with Bendtner

The German club have terminated their contract with the polemic Dane on the behest of manager Dieter Hecking, whose relationship with the striker has completely deteriorated.

Nicklas Bendtner during a rare appearance for Wolfsburg
NORBERT SCHMIDTAFP

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner is without a club after VfL Wolfsburg announced on Monday they have cancelled his contract with a year still left to run.

The 28-year-old joined Wolfsburg on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2014 on a three-year deal.

But he has scored just nine goals in 47 games and his relationship with Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking has deteriorated over the course of the season.

'When he first arrived, both Nicklas and us here had promised a lot of commitment at VfL Wolfsburg,' said Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs.

'After two years, we unfortunately have to see that these expectations have been met neither by him nor by us, and to continue working together would have made no sense for anyone.

'Therefore, the decision to end this deal is the best solution for everyone.'

According to reports, all that is left to sort out is the amount of compensation Bendtner will be paid, which looks to be up to two million euros ($2.25m, £1.55m).

The Danish international has been excluded from first-team training for the last four weeks and his last goal in the Bundesliga was back in October in a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

He was left out of Wolfsburg's run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Wolfsburg's coach Dieter Hecking, not a fan of the ousted Dane
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Wolfsburg's coach Dieter Hecking, not a fan of the ousted DanePETER STEFFENEFE

Bendtner was on the bench for their group stage win over Manchester United in December, but left out of the match squad entirely for both legs of their quarter-final defeat against Real Madrid.

He was fined by Volkswagen-sponsored Wolfsburg in February after breaking club rules by posting a picture of him climbing into a luxury Mercedes.

Bendtner turned down an offer in January to play in China and his future is now open.

Ruffling the sponsors and incurring a fine back in February
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Ruffling the sponsors and incurring a fine back in February

'We wish Nicklas good luck in his further career,' added Allofs.