Germany captain Michael Ballack is leaving Bayern Munich because he will make more money elsewhere, most likely at Chelsea, according to Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness.
”It was always clear that Michael was not interested in learning a new language or a new culture, but a new currency,” Hoeness was quoted as saying in Monday’s edition of the magazine Kicker. ”The only thing was money and it would be laughable if we tried to go against a certain Mr Abramovich.”
Roman Abramovich is the Russian billionaire who owns Chelsea.
Hoeness said he held no ill feelings toward Ballack, who has spent four seasons with Bayern.
”I have absolutely no problem if a player wants a change after four years at Bayern. But he should be honest and say he was leaving because he wants to earn more money,” Hoeness said.
Ballack turned down a contract extension offer from Bayern that was reportedly worth â,¬36-million over four years and the Bundesliga champion said it would not make a new one.
Kicker said the ”highly complicated contract” between Ballack and Chelsea had been worked out and was ready for signing as soon as Ballack conducts talks with some of his personal sponsors.
Hoeness said Bayern was preparing for life after Ballack and was looking to fill several positions, not only the midfielder’s.
Bayern wanted to add a central defender, a midfielder and a forward, he said, while keeping the roster to about 25 players, he said.
It appeared likely that Bayern would not extend the contracts of Mehmet Scholl, Bixente Lizarazu and Jens Jeremies, Kicker said. — Sapa-AP