The Ballack Thread

[Lance Knight]

whatever news and stuff on this contract situatuion
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'I haven't made up my mind yet'
16.11.2005 The Wednesday papers were full of speculation regarding Michael Ballack and his future plans. The Reds midfielder offered fcbayern.dehis view of the situation.

fcbayern.de: Michael, is there a problem between the board of directors and yourself?

Michael Ballack: "Not at all. Everything Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said was totally acceptable, and I was informed about it beforehand."

fcbayern.de: What's the situation at the present time?

Ballack: "I haven't turned down Bayern's offer. All I did was inform the board of directors that I hadn't made up my mind at the present time."

fcbayern.de: Why is that, and what are the factors behind your decision?

Ballack: "I'd like the opportunity to look into a few other possibilities, and I can't formally do that until January."

fcbayern.de: How did the board react?

Ballack: "The board told me they were no longer able to keep their offer on the table, and that Bayern would begin looking at alternatives. From my perspective, that's totally legitimate."

fcbayern.de: If the club is looking for alternatives, that surely means there's no future for you in Munich?

Ballack: "That's not the case at all. As I've already said, I've not rejected anything, and it's possible I'll finally decide to stay at Bayern at any time. The board told me we can sit down and talk again at any time."

fcbayern.de: Why might you move on to a different club, and why might you stay at Bayern?

Ballack: "Bayern Munich are one of the biggest clubs in the world. You always have a chance of honours here, including winning the Champions League. We have a fantastic squad and tremendous dressing room spirit. There are only one or two clubs which I consider realistic alternatives. And my family and I feel very much at home in Munich. I believe this is where we'll settle after my playing career. So it's basically a perfect situation for me at Bayern."

fcbayern.de: So why are you stalling on a new deal?

Ballack: "I've always dreamed of playing abroad at some point."

[Lance Knight]

Updated: Nov. 17, 2005 Bayern's Ballack says money not his motivation

FRANKFURT, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Michael Ballack has angrily rejected suggestions that his interest in a move away from Bayern Munich is down to greed.

Ballack, out of contract at the end of the season, wants to listen to offers from foreign clubs before deciding whether to sign a new deal with Bayern.


As a free agent, Ballack could expect a big club in Europe to add or factor in a large signing-on fee to his salary package but he insists money is not his motivation.

'It's absolutely shameless (to say that),' Ballack said in an interview with Kicker published on Thursday. 'The accusation is baseless. I'm just trying to leave my options open.'

The Bundesliga champions this week withdrew an offer reportedly worth €36 million ($42 million) over four years but they have said they will re-open talks with the Germany captain if he decides he wants to stay.

The midfielder is reportedly a target for Real Madrid, Manchester United and several Italian clubs.

'I like the city of Munich and Bayern are great but there are one or two other clubs that can compete with them and it would be a great challenge to play abroad,' Ballack said.

'It's been a long time since an outfield player from Germany played at a top European club.'

[ballack_fanatka]

well...... chances to stay in bayern have been reduced in the past days since bayern munich directives said they retire the offer for the midfield.... but as i see it... if he goes to man u... things are not gonna be as good for him as in bayern... and if he goes to real the chances of satying in the bench are a great chance....

[ballack_fanatka]

MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Manchester United target Michael Ballack is ready to listen to all options in January after Bayern Munich withdrew their offer of a new deal.

FIFA rules do not allow Ballack, out of contract at the end of the season, to talk to other clubs until January 1 and the midfielder wants to wait until then to see what sort of packages United, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan put on the table.

"I will wait until January 1 because then FIFA rules allow me to talk with other clubs," Ballack told Kicker magazine.

"I wanted to keep this option open and Bayern obviously knew that and it was one reason why they wanted a decision by November."

Manchester manager Alex Ferguson was reported Thursday to have met his board after Bayern withdrew Ballack's offer.

Ferguson sees the German as the ideal replacement for skipper Roy Keane who is leaving at the end of the season.

United would be able to buy Ballack for free next summer but he was reported to be demanding 20 million pounds over four years.

Bayern had put a four-year extension in front of Ballack but the Germany captain, scorer of 29 goals in 61 internationals, refused to be rushed into a decision.

Munich withdrew their offer this week in frustration at what they saw as a stalling tactic but Ballack was angry at being depicted as a mercenary.

"What I have been accused of is an absolute disgrace," declared Ballack. "It has been a longstanding dream of mine to play abroad.

"I am 29, my contract is going to expire and this is the last opportunity for me to do something I have always wanted.

"I will not set deadlines. I need time to decide where I want to end my career and what direction my life will take. That does not have anything to do with being a mercenary."

Ballack turned down Real Madrid in 2002, claiming he was not ready to move abroad, and joined Bayern from Leverkusen in a 12.9 million euro deal.

The move has seen Ballack win the league and cup double twice with Bayern in 2003 and 2005 but Champions League glory has evaded him.

"Munich is a great city and Bayern are a top club but there are other clubs in Europe that can match them and it would be a real challenge," added Ballack. "It has also been a while since a German player was at a top European club."

With Manchester, Madrid and the Milan clubs at the ready with lucrative deals Bayern are facing up to the prospect of losing Ballack.

"It looks like he is leaving us," Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer told Bild daily. "It will not be easy finding a worthy successor but Bayern will survive whether Ballack stays or not."

[Lance Knight]

Agent insists Ballack yet to decide future

Michael Ballack's agent has flatly denied the Germany captain has agreed to join Real Madrid in the summer.

The 29-year-old midfielder recently had a lucrative contract offer withdrawn by Bayern Munich following his failure to commit to an extension of his present deal with the Bundesliga outfit.


Out of contract at the end of the season, Ballack is free to sign pre-contract terms with any club outside Germany once the transfer window opens on January 1 and all the major sides in Europe - including Manchester United, Barcelona and both AC and Inter Milan - have been linked with the player.

Reports from Spain this morning claimed Real Madrid have won the chase to secure the services of one of the most sought-after stars on the continent.

However, Ballack's agent Michael Becker has refuted these rumours and insisted his client is yet to make up his mind which club he will join.

'There is no deal,' said Becker. 'For anyone to say Michael has agreed to join anyone is simply untrue.'

Ballack was missing with a muscle strain as Bayern attempted to secure their place in the Champions League knock-out phase with a victory over Rapid Vienna.

[ballack_fanatka]

28.01.2006 WEEK NEWS REPORT
Bayern Won 1-3 against Monchengladbach with a beautiful Michael goal on min 55. the goal is here and the other goals were by Makaay for bayern and Sonck for m'gladbach. In other news in the DFB Pokal bayern defeated Mainz 3-2 . Germany's qualifying group for Euro 2008 is Group D: Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Cyprus, San Marino. And about the Ballack transfer rumors keep going in england... about him going to Manchester UTD. or Real Madrid. (i would prefer Italy......)

Hoeness: Ballack To Go
Bayern Munich Uli Hoeness believes the club may have set themselves up to retain midfield engine Michael Ballack with a string of contract extensions that concluded with Willy Sagnol this weekend.
FC Hollywood have gone to great lengths to re-sign Sebastian Deisler, Martin Demichelis, Owen Hargreaves, Oliver Kahn and Lucio in recent weeks, potentially ending Ballack’s main concern over staying. “When Michael didn't sign on for more, we had to go back to basics,” Hoeness told the club website. “The situation caused by the string of unresolved contractual questions wasn't good, and took its toll on the team.”
“We tackled the remaining questions one by one,” he offered. “I think we've been very successful.”
“It's not necessarily been cheap, but we've been successful.” Ballack runs out of contract this summer, and is likely to be pursued by Arsenal, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Real Madrid if he goes free. - extra comments by Veronica
Michael dismisses Juventus move
Well ,both Ballack and Becker dismissed they have signed a contract with Juventus
Juventus allegally offered 5 mi euro for 5years to Michael.
Becker said the same old story"...it is m ost important contract of his career.." that stuff everybody knows.
But he also said something very interesting that Michael may only say his decision near CL clash against AC Milan Michael will likely substitute Pavel Nedved , who is goin to retire after this season.

[Becks]

How I would love to see Ballack stay at Bayern...

[cris_cris15]

Michael Ballack is my favorite player, i'm his Fan..
Michael is best soccer player ! ! ! and because of Michael i'm fan of German national team:

http://www.best-ranks.com/Michael_Ballack.htm