Hamburg's veteran midfielder Ze Roberto has ruled out a summer move to the New York Red Bulls.

Speculation in Germany yesterday suggested the Major League Soccer side were interested in the 35-year-old Brazilian and were set to offer him a lucrative three-year contract which would see him finish his career in the States.

However, the former Bayern Munich man, whose deal with Hamburg expires at the end of next season, said today: "A transfer is not an issue."

Ze Roberto was in blistering form before picking up an ankle injury late last year. That ruled him out for three months, but he made a goalscoring return to the starting XI against Bayer Leverkusen last Sunday and is still regarded as one of Hamburg's most influential players.

Former Hamburg director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who was instrumental in taking Ze Roberto to the club last summer, is now the general manager at the Red Bulls.