AJAX TAKE HARD LINE WITH ARVELADZE

The 28-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, now looks likely to be on his way out of the Amsterdam ArenA.

"Ajax offered me a new contract," said Arveladze.

"They said if I didn't sign it, they wouldn't let me join up with the first-team squad. That's why I only played ten minutes at the Amsterdam tournament and now I'm thinking about changing club."

Adriaanse confirmed that he could no longer consider the former NAC Breda ace for his starting XI.

"I'm not allowed to field him anymore," he said.

"Shota's contract runs out next July, so if he doesn't sign an extension he would be available on a free.

"Ajax have had a lot of bad experiences with players leaving on a free transfer just like that.

"We really want to keep Shota, firstly because as a person he is great to have in the squad and he was our top goalscorer last season with 18 goals.

"He is a terrific player. So as his coach I did everything I could. I recommended to the board that they should give him as much money as possible in order to get him to sign. However, it didn't work out.

"We set a deadline and agreed that if Shota didn't sign before that date I couldn't pick him. So at this point I'm not allowed to field him anymore. That's really a pain to Shota, as well as to the fans. However, that's the policy of Ajax."