Niculae played for Romania in the Euro 2008 finals



Romania striker Marius Niculae has been given a week's leave from pre-season training after Inverness rejected a transfer bid from Kaiserslautern.
But Caley Thistle insist that the two events are not connected.
"He was at the European Championships and needs a few days to sort out some business back home" director of football Graeme Bennett told BBC Sport.
"But we expect him back after the squad return from Denmark next Sunday. We have had bids but none were accepted."
Bennett confirmed that Kaiserslautern now in the second division of the Bundesliga had made an offer for the 27-year-old on Sunday.
"It was a realistic offer but it still did not meet our valuation of the player" he said.



"We also had offers from Turkish club Kayserispor and PAOK of Greece but none have been acceptable."
Caley Thistle have a verbal agreement with Niculae that he can leave if a major club makes an acceptable offer.
But Bennett is surprised that there has not been more interest and thought it possible that he would still be an Inverness player come the start of the Scottish Premier League season on 9 August.
"After he appeared at the European Championships I would have said no chance but the longer it goes the more likely that is" he said.
Bennett said there had been no contact from Dinamo Bucharest despite newspaper speculation linking Niculae with a return to his homeland.
Inverness manager Craig Brewster had announced Niculae's leave of absence following his side's 4-1 victory over St Johnstone in a pre-season friendly.
"Marius will not be coming with us to Denmark" he told Caley Thistle's website. "The board have given him permission to sort out some personal stuff and we will see him again on our return.
"Marius is still a Caley Thistle player for another year and he will remain here until the board agrees a fee with another club."
Meanwhile Brewster is still awaiting word from Hearts following their bid to take striker Calum Elliot on loan. New Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has given permission for Elliot to be farmed out but other clubs are also interested in the 21-year-old.