Van der Vaart can leave Real for nothing - FIFPro

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THE HAGUE, Aug 12, 2009 (AFP) - Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart should be allowed to leave Real Madrid for nothing having fallen out of favour there, a lawyer for the players' union FIFPro said Wednesday, quoted by Dutch news agency ANP.

New coach Manuel Pellegrini has made it clear that Van der Vaart does not feature in his plans for the new season and "this signifies that Van der Vaart no longer is of value to his club," said the lawyer, Wil van Megen.

"As a consequence he can leave Real without a transfer fee," said Van Megen. "The club has not respected the contract linking it with the player and thus loses its rights in the event of a transfer."

Real bought Van der Vaart for 16 million euros but they have no substantial offers to take him off their hands.

Dutch coach Bart van Marwijk says he is worried by the situation with the Dutch players on the sidelines at the Bernabeu.

Although striker Klas-Jan Huntelaar has left for AC Milan, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Royston Drenthe and Van der Vaart are still in Spain but looking likely to be left on the fringes this season with Real having signed the likes of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Earlier this month Van der Waart said in a newspaper interview that "my chances at Real Madrid are close to zero, if not completely nil."