Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos has denied his playing career is over after Anzhi Makhachkala dropped him from their squad, in comments posted on Twitter on Saturday.
Roberto Carlos has been working part-time as a coach and team official since he joined Anzhi in 2011, and has said he plans to retire at the end of 2012.
The player confirmed a statement from Anzhi vice-president German Chistyakov that he was no longer registered for the remainder of the 2011-12 Russian Premier League season.
He said he was working alongside head coach Guus Hiddink, but hoped to play next season and suggested that he may feature in 2013.
“I haven’t gone away, and am only out of the squad until the end of the season. Next year I will play a few times!” he said.
“I’m working with the coach! Just off the list because I hadn’t been playing, so they added someone else.”
Carlos was training at Anzhi’s base in Turkey, he added.
Roberto Carlos has played 25 of Anzhi’s 33 games this season, scoring four goals.
He has also given interviews explaining his duties in ensuring the club’s internal affairs are run professionally and acting as a conduit between billionaire owner Suleiman Kerimov and the football world when the club acquires new players.
