Klasnic plays down Mainz expectations

Mainz striker Ivan Klasnic has said he does not want all of the limelight after joining the club on a free transfer. The former Bolton Wanderers, Nantes and Werder Bremen striker officially returned to the Bundesliga when he signed a one-year contract with Mainz a week ago, but it was not until today that the Croatian actually arrived in Germany. His signing has sparked a renewed air of enthusiasm in Mainz, but he insists that the team and not he should be the star. "I am not the messiah," he said. "I am just one of 25 players in a team who want to be successful. I don't want to be the special person here who everybody focuses on." Given his record for Werder, the spotlight is inevitably going to fall on the 32-year-old as and when he makes his Mainz debut. Klasnic netted 49 goals in the German top flight, but is not making an obsession out of moving onto 50. "I just want to play football and enjoy myself," he added at his official presentation today. "And if possible, I want to celebrate as many wins as possible with Mainz so that we can all enjoy ourselves, that is it." Mainz travel to Bayern Munich on Saturday, but Klasnic is unlikely to make his debut just yet after admitting to being short of full fitness, despite trying to keep himself fit since being released by Bolton in the summer. His debut has therefore been pencilled in for the home game against Augsburg a week later. From : Fifa