Rafael makes shock Hertha exit

Götz spat
Angolan-born Rafael has committed to Mönchengladbach until summer 2009, ending a three-and-a-half year stay at Hertha. The 21-year-old scored 16 goals in 70 league games after moving to Germany from AFC Ajax in 2002, but in recent months had been frozen out by coach Falko Götz, who publicly criticised the talented youngster's commitment in training.

Svěrkoš swap
Rafael's loss has been tempered by the arrival of Czech U21 international Svěrkoš, whose career to date has run remarkably parallel to his predecessor's. The 22-year-old former FC Baník Ostrava striker has played an identical number of Bundesliga matches, scoring 17 goals. He has signed for Hertha until the end of the season.