Ballack in no hurry to decide his future

MICHAEL BALLACK will wait until at least January before deciding whether to make a dream move abroad or to stay at Bayern Munich.

Bayern this week withdrew their offer of an extended contract but the Germany captain says he may yet decide to stay on after his current deal expires at the end of the season.

“Foreign clubs can speak to me as of January,” Ballack said yesterday.

“It would be a dream for me to play abroad but I can just as easily see myself staying at Bayern.”

The Bundesliga champions reportedly offered Ballack a four-year contract worth €36 million before becoming frustrated by his continued stalling. The club said on Monday they were looking at their options for a replacement, although coach Felix Magath has since said he expects Ballack to stay.

The midfielder is reportedly a target for Real Madrid, Man United and several Italian clubs.

“This is my last contract,” Ballack said. “I just want time to be certain about where I want to end my career and which road I’m taking in my life. My heart is with Bayern Munich. That’s the reason I didn’t say goodbye long ago.”

“It will not be easy finding a worthy successor,” Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said “Ballack is so dangerous going forward and can turn a game by himself. But what should we do? Bayern will go on if Ballack leaves or not.”

SV Hamburg’s Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart and Villarreal’s Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme have been mentioned as possible successors.