Vahedinikbakht's Spanish move in limbo

AFC - Alireza Vahedinikbakht’s prospective transfer to Spanish club Rayo Vallecano is in limbo after it was revealed on Iranmania that the player had missed an appointment with the Madrid side in order to travel with the national side to Kiev for Wednesday’s international friendly against Ukraine.

Vahedinikbakht was scheduled to leave for Spain on Sunday, but departed instead for Ukraine where he helped his side to defeat the hosts 1-0. However, his participation in that match may have severely dented Vahedinikbakht’s hopes of becoming the first Iranian to play in the Spanish top flight.

"I was supposed to leave for Spain on Saturday night and return two days later," said Vahedinikbakht. "However, [Iran coach Branko] Ivankovic said that I had to go to Ukraine with the national team. I spoke to my agent but nothing could be done.

"I'll know where I stand when I return from Kiev. The Spanish have a right to be upset with me. When I think about it I have stood them up. "I would love to join a European club," added Vahedinikbakht, "I want the experience. If the matter of my transfer is solved, I'll be the first Iranian to join a Spanish club. I would personally like to play there."

Esteghlal chairman Ali Fathollahzadeh, is enraged at the situation and he has criticised the Iran Football Association for putting both club and player in a difficult position.

"The officials of Rayo Vallecano have a right to be upset with us. Such things destroy the reputation of clubs and are harmful. If we can't transfer players like Vahedi to foreign clubs our existence is threatened. Why do the FA always object to our wishes? No other Federation in the world behaves in this way.

"What have we done to the Federation to deserve this? Is it so wrong to issue a 48-hour leave for a player so he can arrange his transfer to Europe and make us proud? Because of the lack of cooperation by the Football Federation we have always lost face and are embarrassed when the officials of the European clubs ask us to transfer players to their clubs."