BERLIN (AFP) - Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart admitted defeat on Tuesday in his bid to play Champions League football and switch from Bundesliga side Hamburg to Spain's Valencia.

The 24-year-old caused a furore among Hamburg's fans when he was photographed with a Valencia shirt at the weekend, having made no secret of his desire to switch to Spain and play Champions League football.

But Hamburg have taken legal action to stop their captain being further approached by Valencia and rejected a 14 million euros bid (18.8 million dollars) for the international, slapping a 40,000 euros fine on the Dutchman for his behaviour.

"It is a race against time," Van der Vaart told German newspaper Bild.

"Even if Valencia continue to want me, they will soon end up saying that this saga has gone on too long and they will go after someone else."

Van der Vaart has been at Hamburg since June 2005 and is under contract until 2010.

But Hamburg bosses have refused to release their star player, even if the initial offer is raised to 22 million euros (29.6 million dollars).

"That does not interest us," insisted Hamburg's director Dietmar Beiersdorfer.

Van der Vaart showed some remorse for his actions and is prepared for another season of Bundesliga football with an apology to Hamburg's fans.

"Perhaps I should have expressed myself better, some of my remarks hurt Hamburg fans and they don't deserve that.

"Sometimes you have to be a bit of an arsehole in life to get to where you want to be, that is not something I would normally do."

But Van der Vaart did little to endear himself to his club and their fans by adding: "In one or two seasons, I am sure, I will play in Spain."