Post by Taxigirl on Nov 8, 2005 9:20:05 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov7i.html
Bayern Munich’s Michael Ballack is close to becoming an Inter player next season, according to reports in Italy.
Last Wednesday, whilst Bayern were preparing for their Champions League match against Juventus, a delegation from Inter are believed to have met with Bayern representatives over a possible move for the player.
Inter sporting director Gabriele Oriali had lunch with Ballack’s agent Michael Becker and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in the hills surrounding Turin to discuss the midfielder’s situation.
The 29-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and Ballack, who has no shortage of admirers, has yet to renew his current deal with the Bavarian club who are desperate to hold on to their prized star.
Inter owner Massimo Moratti is prepared to pay Ballack £3m a season over four years if he signs with the Nerazzurri, but does not want to anger the German champions with whom he has enjoyed excellent relations in the past.
The meeting, and presence of former Inter player Rummenigge, was therefore designed as a way for Inter to openly declare their intentions to the Munich outfit.
With Manchester United and Real Madrid, whom Ballack turned down in 2002, also hot on the heels of the German, such an above-board approach seems to have been orchestrated in order to gain a favourable response from the German camp should they lose out on the player themselves.
For his part, Ballack has yet to declare his intentions but is expected to make a decision at the end of the month once he has weighed up all of his options.
"Journalists seem to know the facts better than I do," he told Football Italia. "But since the last time I spoke nothing has changed.
"It will be decided in the next few weeks, yet nothing has been decided yet."
Bayern Munich’s Michael Ballack is close to becoming an Inter player next season, according to reports in Italy.
Last Wednesday, whilst Bayern were preparing for their Champions League match against Juventus, a delegation from Inter are believed to have met with Bayern representatives over a possible move for the player.
Inter sporting director Gabriele Oriali had lunch with Ballack’s agent Michael Becker and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in the hills surrounding Turin to discuss the midfielder’s situation.
The 29-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and Ballack, who has no shortage of admirers, has yet to renew his current deal with the Bavarian club who are desperate to hold on to their prized star.
Inter owner Massimo Moratti is prepared to pay Ballack £3m a season over four years if he signs with the Nerazzurri, but does not want to anger the German champions with whom he has enjoyed excellent relations in the past.
The meeting, and presence of former Inter player Rummenigge, was therefore designed as a way for Inter to openly declare their intentions to the Munich outfit.
With Manchester United and Real Madrid, whom Ballack turned down in 2002, also hot on the heels of the German, such an above-board approach seems to have been orchestrated in order to gain a favourable response from the German camp should they lose out on the player themselves.
For his part, Ballack has yet to declare his intentions but is expected to make a decision at the end of the month once he has weighed up all of his options.
"Journalists seem to know the facts better than I do," he told Football Italia. "But since the last time I spoke nothing has changed.
"It will be decided in the next few weeks, yet nothing has been decided yet."