Wolfsburg, Germany - German champions Wolfsburg have told striker Grafite to take a week off in his homeland Brazil in the hope he will recover the form which made him the league's top scorer last season and earned him Germany's footballer of the year award. Grafite has struggled to find his form or goal touch this season and his frustrations came to the boil with a red card in the goalless Champions League draw with Besiktas on Wednesday.
"He needs a complete rest to clear his head. That will work best if he spends a few days in a different environment," coach Armin Veh said Friday.
Grafite, who scored 28 goals last season, has found the net just twice this term and was recently fined 10,000 euros (15,000 dollars) by the club for criticizing the coach and team-mates.
"Grafite is a very emotional person who has put himself under too much pressure after the success of last season," Veh explained.
The 30-year-old striker welcomed the break, telling the club's website: "It's just not working out for me at the moment but I am convinced the fans will soon see the old Grafite again."
Nigerian striker Obafemi Martens is now expected to start alongside Edin Dzeko for Wolfsburg's visit Sunday to bottom club Hertha Berlin.
