Kompany changes mind and returns to Germany

Belgian Vincent Kompany will be leaving his national side after all in order to spent the rest of the pre-season with Hamburger SV.

Kompany, the Belgian FA and Hamburg had been involved in an ongoing row concerning the player’s stay in Beijing.

A few days after sports tribunal CAS ruled that clubs had the right to tell players to stay away from the Olympics, Hamburger SV became the only team to actually do so.

Initially, Kompany ignored the request from his employer but the 22-year-old changed his mind on Monday as he “lacked support from the Belgian FA”.

Kompany made an appearance in the opening match with Brazil but a red card in that game kept him sidelined for the second match.