STRASBOURG, France -- Paraguay's goalkeeper Jose-Luis Chilavert, at odds with Racing Strasbourg for financial reasons, says he is ready to leave the French club.

The flamboyant Chilavert, 37, was expected to play his first match for Strasbourg this season today in a first division game against Lille, but said he would not play, Reuters reported.

"I have not been respected. And nothing matters like respect in life," he told Strasbourg newspaper ****L'Alsace**** on Friday.

"A large sum of money should have been paid to me a year ago and it has not yet been paid," he added.

Chilavert, who captained Paraguay in their World Cup campaign in South Korea and Japan, said he had been told by Strasbourg staff a month ago he was no longer needed.

"They did not need me then, I wonder why they should need me now," he said.

First choice goalkeeper Vincent Fernandez is unavailable with a thigh injury and Coach Ivan Hasek was relying on Chilavert.

"I'm not ready and even if I had been I would not have played," the Paraguayan said.

"He accepted competition. That's it," said Hasek.

"If he doesn't want to play, he should go," he added.