Julian Green denies demotion to Hamburg's U23 side

Just days after reports came out that he was being demoted to the Hamburg U23 team, Julian Green and Hamburg have denied this actually happening. It does appear, however, that Hamburg are open to putting him back in the Regionalliga for a few matches when Josef Zinnbauer doesn't include him with the first team.

Hamburg's press officer Lars Wegener told MLSsoccer.com:

"He's not moving to the Under-23 team. Our sport director said that maybe he could play for the U-23s a couple times when he is not in the first-team squad. The reason is to get him some matches and more practice. He is still with the first team in training."

Hi everybody,

Just to make it clear: nobody from HSV has spoken to me at all. I read in the papers that apparently I'm now playing for the U23. HSV took me on on the third day of the season to reinforce the first team. This was and is my aim, and is the reason why I transferred. I'm a licensed player, I haven't done anything wrong and I give all I've got in the training sessions. I always want to do my best to keep us in the league. If they let me play, I'll shoot goals.

So, where does this leave Green? He's basically in the same position that he's been stuck in since Mirko Slomka was fired. Zinnbauer doesn't see the winger as a fit in their side as they battle against relegation. The jump from the Regionalliga to the Bundesliga hasn't been the easiest for Green, and with a contract through 2017, it's likely that Bayern will find another loan destination for Green next season.