Former Germany international Torsten Frings is leaving Werder Bremen after a six-year second spell at the Bundesliga club.
The 34-year-old midfielder's contract expires in June and Frings was not offered an extension.
''It wasn't a matter of money, there was no offer,'' Werder's general manager Klaus Allofs said Tuesday.
Frings told local newspaper Kreiszeitung Syke: ''I have to accept that. It's a shame, I'd rather have bid farewell with a more successful season.''
He was one of Bremen's top earners, with a reported salary of more than ?4 million ($5.6 million).
Allofs said Werder was forced to start saving after missing out on a European competition.
''We've reached a point when we have to start rebuilding,'' Allofs said.
Frings said ''I was recently accused by the public of only thinking of money and not being willing to make concessions. That's not true. It's not about money for me. I had no offer to reject or accept, because there weren't any.''
Frings, who earned 79 caps for Germany, made 402 appearances in the Bundesliga, with spells for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund sandwiched between two six-year stints for Werder.
Germany coach Joachim Loew dropped Frings from the national team before the 2010 World Cup, triggering a feud with captain Michael Ballack. Ballack himself has not played for Germany in a year.
