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Boro to release Mendieta, Rochemback and Lee

13/05/2008

Premier League side Middlesbrough have announced they will release Fabio Rochemback, Gaizka Mendieta and Dong Gook Lee this summer.

Brazilian Rochemback has played 91 games since joining the club from Barcelona in 2005, but he has been told he will not be offered a new contract when his existing three-year deal runs out at the end of June.

Meanwhile Boro boss Gareth Southgate has also confirmed to Spanish midfielder Mendieta and South Korea's Dong Gook that neither feature in his first-team plans for next season.

Mendieta, 34, has been troubled by injury since joining from Lazio in 2004 and has seen his chances in the first XI limited when fit.

And Dong Gook has been largely uninspiring since arriving at the club on a free transfer in January 2007, scoring just twice in 11 starts and 18 substitute appearances.

"We took a chance on signing Dong Gook at a time when money was tight," Southgate admitted.

"By his own admission, he didn't play as well as he thought he could, but he was never a minute's problem."

On Mendieta's release, Southgate admitted it had been "a difficult situation" for the 34-year-old to be frequently left out of the team, saying it was "a dent to his pride".

"I made it clear to him that he did not figure in my plans but he decided to stay and try to get back into the first team," the Boro manager continued.

"That didn't work out but his attitude to training was always excellent and he was a good influence on some of our young reserve team players."

And commenting on the situation surrounding Rochemback, who scored in the 8-1 demolition of Manchester City on Sunday, Southgate said: "We both feel that the time is right for Fabio to have a fresh challenge.

"He is a talented footballer and I think he's just had his best season for us, while it was fitting that he should bow out against Manchester City on Sunday with probably his best performance in a Middlesbrough shirt."