Jump to content

  • Wanderers Chasing Ballack

    cgorac

    By cgorac

    Not to be outdone by A-League rival Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers is chasing the signature of off-contract Germany star Michael Ballack, The World Game can reveal.

     

    ][/b]

    With the Sky Blues basking in the glory of landing Italian star Alessandro Del Piero on a two-year deal, it has emerged Wanderers has launched an audacious bid of its own for one of Germany's greatest ever players, who's contract at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen is up.

     

    It is believed representatives of Wanderers have been talking to Ballack's representatives over the past week, with a view to sealing a $1.6 million one-season deal.

     

    Wanderers has filled its five Visa allocations already, but Ballack would still be able to qualify as a non-visa foreign player, eligible by residency in Australia.

     

    In a mouth-watering sub-plot to the A-League's first Sydney derby, Ballack and Del Piero would face off when the two clubs meet for the first time on Saturday 20 October at Parramatta Stadium, should the deal happen.

     

    Ballack is a veteran of 98 appearances for Germany, which he also captained. The 35-year-old midfielder was one of Roman Abramovich's first high profile recruitment coups joining Chelsea from Bayern Munich in 2006, before returning to Bayer Leverkusen in 2010.

     

    The news comes in a ground-breaking week of high profile signings for the A-League, with reports on Wednesday linking Newcastle Jets with the $1 million signing of English striker Emile Heskey on a one-year deal.

     

    The World Game

    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    moxey25

    Kewell is screwed if he doesn't find a club. He thought he could, but he can't which is a fail.

     

    Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if he tells his wife that he needs to play professional football over taking care of her mother.

     

    He may be back in Oz sooner than we think.

    Link to comment
    BigDukes

    welcome harb :-) (its bucca)

     

    unfortunately I can not see the Ballack deal occurring, so not getting all excited.

     

    Whilst harry Kewell would fit into our western philosophy, the guy needs to lower his wage standards. He was demanding 30k a week apparently when Blackburn and those championship sides were after him, when the average championship striker only earns 15-20k a week (not to mention Kewell is 33 and injury prone).

     

    If Harry Kewell is happy with 500k-750k a year..then sign him up as Australian Marquee for WS. He will do more things off the field, than on it however

    Link to comment
    GunnerWanderer

    Admin - link removed. the website that shares the name of the Brisbane A-League Team Nickname does not appreciate their content being cross-posted to other websites.

    Link to comment
    Cisse9

    Considering their was only one source arguing that they had rejected Ballack and LG came out and didn't deny the possibility of signing MB, I believed their was defiantly a chance he would becoming

     

    Positives are I have 4 mates ready to become

    members due to this signing I believe many Australians consider themselves just premier league fans and this may convert a heap of them

    Link to comment
    montywoodpeg

    I'll be ecstatic if he does sign, would arguably be a better signing than ADP.

     

    He states this is for a 2 year deal. I thought FFA and Wanderers were only able to offer 1 year contracts at this stage.

     

    We've also yet to receive a solid explanation on how we could sign a 6th foreign player. I understand there is a 10-game guest stint option (he would hopefully play more than 10 games over 2 years), workarounds with citizenship (can't see any way to utilise this) and the rumour that an exception was made to allow an extra foreigner to help popa form a squad in time.

    Link to comment
    BigDukes

    the article is nothing but a joke

     

    Ballack takes to three the number of ex-English Premier League and European players to sign with A-League clubs this off-season, the others being Alessandro Del Pierro with Sydney FC and Emile Heskey with the Newcastle

     

    Obviously the author is really reliable, especially considering a) he cant spell del piero & b) he never played EPL

    Link to comment
    Yoda

    the article is nothing but a joke

     

    Ballack takes to three the number of ex-English Premier League and European players to sign with A-League clubs this off-season, the others being Alessandro Del Pierro with Sydney FC and Emile Heskey with the Newcastle

     

    Obviously the author is really reliable, especially considering a) he cant spell del piero & b) he never played EPL

     

    he played for CHELSEA!!! i hope its not another BS media story though

     

    the article is nothing but a joke

     

    Ballack takes to three the number of ex-English Premier League and European players to sign with A-League clubs this off-season, the others being Alessandro Del Pierro with Sydney FC and Emile Heskey with the Newcastle

     

    Obviously the author is really reliable, especially considering a) he cant spell del piero & b) he never played EPL

     

    he played for CHELSEA!!! i hope its not another BS media story though

     

    lol unless you meant del piero; just got excited should have read your post properly

    Link to comment
    pumpks

    the article is nothing but a joke

     

    Ballack takes to three the number of ex-English Premier League and European players to sign with A-League clubs this off-season, the others being Alessandro Del Pierro with Sydney FC and Emile Heskey with the Newcastle

     

    Obviously the author is really reliable, especially considering a) he cant spell del piero & b) he never played EPL

     

    Also states that he has played for eight clubs, by my count it's only 5 must be counting Leverkusen twice and must also be counting the times he played for Chemnitzer II and Kaiserslautern II before being promoted to the first team.

    Edited by pumpks
    Link to comment
    Kraken

    He wouldnt be a bigger signing then ADP. And im not 100% sold on this as I dont want a player looking for a holiday. IMO WSW should of been the ones to sign a big Italian to bring over the NSL fans. ESFC have wasted their money because if the Italian community were going to support Sydney FC they would of started years ago.

    Link to comment
    BigDukes

    yoda - you are a twat my friend lol. im talking about del piero. Im well aware Ballack played for Chelsea.

     

    This is the way I see it:

     

    ADP fits Sydneys billing. Big name for a cocky team. Plus he is in decent condition

     

    Ballack - Whilst a great player, i feel like he has nothing to contribute. It will put bums on seats, but i dont think he will have the same affect on the park. Every club he has been to in the past he has had some sort of dramas with either player group, coaching staff, hell even the German public disliked him and he was captain.

    Link to comment
    Yoda

    yoda - you are a twat my friend lol. im talking about del piero. Im well aware Ballack played for Chelsea.

     

    This is the way I see it:

     

    ADP fits Sydneys billing. Big name for a cocky team. Plus he is in decent condition

     

    Ballack - Whilst a great player, i feel like he has nothing to contribute. It will put bums on seats, but i dont think he will have the same affect on the park. Every club he has been to in the past he has had some sort of dramas with either player group, coaching staff, hell even the German public disliked him and he was captain.

     

    Damn my hopeful self, Damn it to the grave!!! lol

    Link to comment
    montywoodpeg

    the article is nothing but a joke

     

    Ballack takes to three the number of ex-English Premier League and European players to sign with A-League clubs this off-season, the others being Alessandro Del Pierro with Sydney FC and Emile Heskey with the Newcastle

     

    Obviously the author is really reliable, especially considering a) he cant spell del piero & b) he never played EPL

     

    He's one of the 'Roar Rookie', which I believe means he's more freelance/amateur and not a professional writer. I don't think he intended to claim Del Piero played in the EPL, he has just worded it poorly.

     

    His bad writing style doesn't necessarily disprove his connections, the guy could have some friends in useful positions.

     

    Wait and see, I suppose. I remain optimistic as I'm a big fan of German football, and would love to see a player like Ballack strengthen the midfield and attacking prospects of the Wanderers.

    Link to comment
    Davo

    the article is nothing but a joke

     

    Ballack takes to three the number of ex-English Premier League and European players to sign with A-League clubs this off-season, the others being Alessandro Del Pierro with Sydney FC and Emile Heskey with the Newcastle

     

    Obviously the author is really reliable, especially considering a) he cant spell del piero & b) he never played EPL

     

    I think they keep Italy in Europe :xnod:

     

    Although that does imply that there are only 3 players from Europe that have singed in this off season and Wanderers alone have signed 5 so I guess your original point about the whole article being a wild guess still stands.

     

    I'd love to see him come and I'm trying not to get my hopes up but it's bloody hard.

    Link to comment
    Erebus

    2 year deal? I thought this club was only offering 1 year contracts? Pfft, I won't believe it until I see him put on a Wanderers shirt.

    I won't even believe the Wanderers are real until I see them walk out in their red and black hoops at Parramatta stadium.

    Link to comment
    Pup55

    and the sad thing is, we can't meet him at the airport in our Wanderers gear, as we don't have any Wanderers gear yet :(

    Link to comment
    PEDRO

    I Can, received my Polo Shirt today & waiting on Cap to become available

    Might be the only one at the airport apart from some german expats.

     

    Link to comment


    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...