Ballack no mercenary, insists his agent

MICHAEL BALLACK’S agent claims that the midfielder’s possible transfer to Chelsea is not just about money.

Ballack will quit Bayern Munich at the end of the season and his agent has confirmed the Germany captain is in “serious talks” with the Premiership champions.

Bayern’s general manager Uli Hoeness claimed this week that the 29-year-old’s main motivation would be money, if he chose to join Chelsea this summer.

But Ballack’s agent Michael Becker responded: “That remark is weak. I am surprised and astounded. In the price range where Michael finds himself, it is not only about money. He has to make a sports-related decision.

“We are in serious talks with Chelsea.”

Becker also criticised the Bundesliga leaders for demanding the midfielder pledge his future to the club before the January transfer window. He added: “I never understood why they wanted a decision from Michael by November, whereas other team leaders were asked to make a decision by January.”

Becker believes Bayern have tried to make Ballack a scapegoat for their poor performances in the last couple of weeks.