Football: Rojas set to exit Germany

Marco Rojas struggled for game time in Germany. Photo / Getty Images

Marco Rojas is likely to leave his current club SpVgg Greuther Furth in January - and is almost certain to be playing his football outside Germany next year.

There's a possibility he will return to the A-League as a marquee player, although the All White's preference is to stay in Europe.

There are at least two European clubs outside Germany interested in signing Rojas, and it's likely the 23-year-old will soon join his third club in six months.

Vfb Stuttgart interim sport director Jochen Schneider told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten last week the young winger may have to move to another club to get game time.

Schneider, who confirmed two clubs outside Germany were interested in the New Zealander, indicated another switch was likely.

"The way it's looking now, Marco will be playing for his third club in January," Schneider said.

Rojas signed a four-year contract with Stuttgart at the end of the 2012-13 Australian season, arriving in Europe as A-League Player of the Year. But he has failed to fire. Injuries ruined his first season in Stuttgart, and he was loaned to second-division team Greuther Furth.

But he has seen only 26 minutes of first-team action and Furth chairman Helmut Hack bluntly expressed his dissatisfaction last month.

"So far he has not been able to adjust to the more robust style of play," Hack said. "I have to say that, so far, he has not been able to fulfil our expectations."

The club were also displeased with Rojas' decision to play for the All Whites last month, despite carrying a minor rib injury.

The landscape has also changed at Stuttgart. Three coaches have come and gone since Rojas arrived and, even more importantly, sporting director Fredi Bobic, a key driver in signing Rojas, was sacked in September.

Europe has yet to see the best of Rojas and he could still find a niche somewhere like Holland, Belgium or Switzerland.

There would be plenty of A-League clubs interested in Rojas, given the impact he had in two seasons at Wellington and two with Melbourne Victory.

He was an attacking dynamo for the Phoenix in his second season and took his game to a new level in Melbourne, scoring 15 goals - many spectacular - in his final Australasian campaign.

A-League clubs would be able to bring in Rojas as a marquee player in January and there would be no shortage or suitors.

The Victory would likely take him back in a heartbeat, and he would also suit the style of play at Sydney FC, Brisbane Roar or Adelaide. However, Rojas is determined to make it in Europe.

"Just because it has taken a little while to get going doesn't mean I am going to give up on my dream yet," Rojas told the Herald on Sunday last month. "As a youngster, I always wanted to play in Europe. I'll keep fighting and when it's not working out and I have given it the best that I can, I will think about coming back. We'll see how the next few years pan out. I still want to make it in Europe and I believe I can."