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  • 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

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    pumpks

    Bullshit article, nothing doing the rounds on twitter. Don't believe it.

     

    What else do you expect from the roar?

    Link to comment
    Neverbloom

    If you read the Roar comments, the editor has apparently faith in the journo's source, so, it sounds positive.

    there are way too many conflicting reports

    Link to comment
    westofcentre

    The Ballack deal is not dead in the water yet. Just wait lads.

     

    Many of you will know the rumour mill goes into overdrive on these sorts of things. Anything can happen, as long a shot as it may be.

    Edited by westofcentre
    Link to comment
    Taurus

    I had reason to speak to the Club's General Manager today.

    Given the stuff he has on his plate atm, I chose not to raise that particular issue with him, nor would I ever expect him to divulge SMB's.

    Chill dudes, all will be revealed in the fullness of time.

    Link to comment
    Taurus

    guys, seriously - I can't believe my Ball(s)ack joke was just completely glossed over. I'm disgusted.

     

    Mr JAR,

    I can't recall a news item other than the Campbelltown incident receiving 158 responses in a 24 hour period.

    I apologise on behalf of your fellow forum members and shall admonish them for failing to respond to your jocular comment, about the subjects' scrotum.

    Link to comment
    BigDukes

    If he does sign.. I take back my comments about Gareth Bale. :ninja:

     

    if he does sign...your following through on your bale comments!

    Link to comment
    moxey25

    Signature updated just in case

     

    If it does I'll make my forum DP a picture of Gareth Bale and openly admit that I love the S*urs.

     

    I was going to say that I would wear a Wanderers jersey in the cove.. thank God I didn't say that.

    Link to comment
    Tigers

    don't know whether this ballack rumour is true or not but there is only silence from Lyall and Wanderers, i checked the wanderers website this morning expecting a denial of any interest in ballack if it wasn't true just like they quickly did to deny we were ever interested in del perio, but we've heard nothing...

     

    ballack doesn't seem the most harmonious of players within a team and his fitness is a bit unknown at this stage, but if wanderers believe that there are no issues then i think he would be a fantastic signing, i love the premier league and english football but even the fowler and heskey a-league signings were a bit ho-hum for me (dwight yorke was a good one tho) but this one could be amazing and it's my team! as a german midfield general i reckon he could teach our young players so much in training and games and off-field hopefully leaving not just a trail of money but a legacy - this is the most important thing. anyway let's not get too excited as it's only a rumour.

     

    it's great that these players want to come to the a-league, i know money's not everything but i would have thought they would go to the middle east where they can earn as much in a couple of months as in a year here.

     

    bring it on

    Link to comment
    Noise

    snapback.pngMCMLXXXVII, on , said:

     

    Im

    Working at the airport nowadays.. Will keep my eyes peeled

     

    The whole RBB needs be at the airport in force when he arrives.

     

    ****ing OATH!

    Link to comment
    mack

    If he does sign.. I take back my comments about Gareth Bale. :ninja:

     

    You're getting a Bale avatar no matter what you withdraw.

    Link to comment
    spectacular291

    Im

    Working at the airport nowadays.. Will keep my eyes peeled

     

    This +1.25BILLION

     

    The whole RBB needs be at the airport in force when he arrives.

    Link to comment
    Davo

    The World Game are claiming that their 'sources in Germany' have confirmed Ballack is about to sign for us.

     

    Sources in Germany confirmed to The World Game that 2002 World Cup finalist Ballack - who turns 36 on 26 September - has opted for Australia over rival offers in the Middle East and MLS in a one-year deal in excess of $1 million.

    Ballack is poised to join Wanderers in time for its A-League debut on Saturday 6 October against Central Coast Mariners at Parramatta Stadium.

    Also they are claiming that questions over his fitness are unounded.

     

    Free agent Ballack - who has maintained his fitness since leaving Bayer Leverkusen at the end of last season by training with the German- national team's top conditioner - is expected in Australia in the first days of October.

     

    Here's some quotes from Mr Source

     

    "Michael is excited by the prospect of coming to great city like Sydney and being a part of a new project in an emerging football country," the source said.

    "He has kept himself very fit and obviously the match-fitness will come quickly from that.

    "He will certainly be in Australia for the first game and over the next few days the finer details will be sorted out and it all be revealed to the people in Australia that he is coming."

     

    I'm trying not to get my hopes up but these sort of articles are making it hard.

     

    Edit: Damn Moxey managed to ninja me.

    Edited by Davo
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    moxey25

    wonder what he would do to our membership numbers if he signs, would he be bigger then del piero?

     

    Wouldn't be as big probably, but would spike up memberships. This guy is a tradesman, absolute class. Polenz will be happy!

     

    Gatty still saying it's far away, in my reliable listing everyone is above SBS.

    Edited by moxey25
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