Former German international Piotr Trochowski is battling FC Sevilla in a lawsuit regarding his contract.
Trochowski started in the 2010 World Cup semifinals for Germany against Spain, but has vanished from the radar in the last couple of years due to a streak of injuries. His aim is to play in Bundesliga next season.
"I have not been paid since September 2014," the midfielder told Suddeutsche Zeitung. "I have never asked to be released from my contract or have accepted the club's offer to cancel it. In my view the contract runs until the end of June."
In 2011 Trochowski joined FC Sevilla from Hamburger SV.
"I had a good first season at Sevilla and in Fall 2012 I scored against Real and Barca within two weeks."
But that was the moment his luck turned.
"Shortly after my goal against Barca I had to leave the pitch with knee pain. The doctors at Sevilla could not find the cause of the problems. So I visited Dr. Muller-Wolfarth at Munich and he diagnosed cartilage damage."
Trochowski underwent surgery and fought his way back into the team the next summer. He played 27 matches during the 2013-14 season.
"When I returned to Sevilla after my summer holidays in 2014 the knee showed a reaction during the first team training session. That was when the club told me to leave," said Trochowski, who added that the message came as a surprise.
"I could not believe it. There had been no indications at all."
Trochowski was unable to find a new club and refused to cancel his contract.
"On Aug. 31 2014, the last day of the transfer window, I received a letter of dismissal by the club. The club told me that I would need an additional permit to stay player at FC Sevilla and I would not get that."
Trochowski told Suddeutsche Zeitung that it is common practice by clubs in Spain to persuade players to cancel their contracts before they run out.
"It happens often in Spain that the clubs offer a player a month's pay or so if they leave the club. If you don't agree to that you're out of the roster. Most players take the money because they know they'll find a decent club coming from Primera Division."
Trochowski said he had no other alternative than to agree to such a deal.
"In my case it would have been a voluntary step into unemployment, because I was facing a minor surgery. There was no way I could have found a club on the last day of the transfer window."
Trochowski called what happened to him "the downside of FC Sevilla's business model. If it is all about making a profit with them, players become a mere article of merchandise.
"I joined them on a free transfer, so they could have sold me with a profit one year before my contract expires. They probably realised that there was no market for me because of the injuries and tried to get rid of me this way."
Trochowski is looking for a fresh start next season.
"I am 100 percent fit now and want to play first division football, preferably in Bundesliga. I know I have to convince the clubs I can help them. I have never done any trial sessions in my career, but I am ready to prove my fitness on the training ground now."