Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: After a series of speculations, Iranian international Ali Karimi admitted on Tuesday that he will leave Tehran giants Piroozi after the end of the domestic season.
Speaking to the Iranian press after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in their ACL Group D match on Tuesday, the 2004 AFC Player of the Year has declared that he is in no mood to renew his contract which is expiring at the end of Iran’s domestic season.
“My contact will expire at the end of the season and I am not going to renew it,” local paper Tehran Times quoted the former Bayern Munich star as saying.
“Piroozi could have been beaten with six goals, so we were lucky in this match. I will leave the team and the officials can sign better players than me,” the 34-year-old added after the match against Al Hilal.
A win at Azadi Stadium could have sealed a last-16 place for Piroozi but now they need to win in the UAE against bottomers Al Shabab Al Arabi in their Group D last match day on May 15.
Considered one of the talented midfielders Iran has produced, Karimi’s best came in 2004 when he walked away with the topscorer honours in the Asian Cup with five goals and was later awarded the AFC Player of the Year.
He secured a move to European giants Bayern Munich in 2005. In his three spells with the Iranian President Cup winners, Karimi scored 39 goals in 123 appearances.