Karabatic, Montpellier part ways

The reigning French champions, Montpellier Agglomération HB will have to battle out the berth in the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 without Nikola Karabatic.

The centre back superstar and his club agreed on terminating the contract that should originally have expired only in one and half year. Although the next destination of the double Olympic winner is not confirmed yet, according to French media he should very soon sign a five month contract for Aix-en-Provence.

"We would like to thank Nikola for all the years he's spent in the club. Even though he will be missed, we give all our trust to the staff and all the remaining players," Remy Levy, the president of MAHB, was quoted on the club's official website.

Montpellier´s main objective in the last three rounds of the European top flight Group Phase is to defend the fourth position in the Group A and take the last ticket to the knock-out stage. The winners of the EHF Champions League 2002/03 are two points ahead of Reale Ademar León and three points ahead of Partizan Beograd.