Transfers: Ballack to Real Madrid?

By: Jan | July 27th, 2007

Raul welcomes Ballack Real Madrid’s 8th coach in four years Bernd Schuster has publicly expressed his admiration for the German midfield ace ~~Bernd Schneider~~ Michael Ballack.

“With his class, he fits perfectly to Real Madrid,” said Schuster in an interview with German TV station ARD “I can very well imagine him playing for my team.” And he continued, “I thought about Michael before he went to Chelsea. He was linked with Real back then, when it was clear Zinedine Zidane was leaving. He would be the link between midfield and attack and would really be perfect.”

Real Madrid are currently preparing for the new season in Austria, where they have just won their first friendly against English Coca-Cola Championship team Stoke City 2-0. After the match Bernd Schuster had something more to say about Ballack - at least according to Goal.com he is quoted, “I look for Ballack’s type of player. It’s necessary to sign players of quality, otherwise it’s not worth the trouble. We know that players often have big contracts with teams that will compete in the Champions League. And the problem there is that they are not likely to leave. I like Ballack, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to get him.”

That’s already a more toned down version. Will be interesting how Chelsea, Mourinho and Ballack himself will react to this little love letter. Real Madrid had been keen to sign Ballack often enough in the past. In 2002 he snubbed them to join Bayern Munich, and in 2006 he snubbed them again to join Chelsea. Even though Real Madrid had sent some Galactic ambassadors like Ronaldo and Zidane, who expressed their wishes to play with him, this time.

Michael Ballack did not impress in his first Premier League season, and Mourinho recently declared that he is no longer untouchable and needs to start from zero to earn his place in the team. The Chelsea coach also plans to switch back to a 4-3-3 formation which doesn’t necessarily favour Ballack.

I can see Ballack playing a better role in Madrid than in London next season. Madrid didn’t succeed in bringing their first choice candidate Kaka to the Bernabéu so Ballack could be a backup solution. Though, I’m not sure whether he wants to move places again after just one year, and whether his family would be too happy about that either.

Let’s wait a few hours for Chelsea’s response…

On a different note, but as it fits the Real Madrid topic: Real Madrid have signed 18 year old defender Christopher Schorch from Herthe BSC Berlin for €1m. Another young talent leaving ~~the sinking ship~~ the club.