German side Schalke say they are ready to leave Kevin-Prince Boateng to rot in the stands even if he does not get an offer to sign him away from the Bundesliga club.
Schalke are determined to let Boateng go stale in the stands - and pay him if they do not find willing buyers after they expelled the Ghanaian from their first team at the end of last season.
The stubborn German side, who are angry over the conduct of the midfielder, says they won't allow him to go no a free transfer as they want to recoup the amount they invested in him.
According to reports of there are indeed club interested in him - including AC Milan and Galatasaray - but they were not willing to pay transfer fees for Boateng.
Because the player himself is seeking a severance payment for the decision to expel him from their first team, Schalke is now threatening him that he will stay in the stands for one year till hos contract expires.
Boateng joined in Summer 2013 for around 10 million euros from AC Milan to Schalke.
His contract runs until 2016 but he was sacked from the Schalke first team in May.
"We have isolated him, because we feel that the relationship of trust no longer exists", Schalke manager Horst Heldt said.