Michael Ballack signs for Bayer Leverkusen

The Germany captain Michael Ballack may be missing the World Cup through injury, but he is still one of the biggest names in German football. He was released by Chelsea at the end of last season, and most of the Sports Betting Odds were saying that only a big club like Man Utd or AC Milan could afford to match his wage demands.

But he has surprised everyone by taking a massive cut in wages to return to the club that made him famous, Bayer Leverkusen. Their coach, Jupp Heynckes, is over the moon that Ballack has chosen to finish his career at Leverkusen. He said: “Michael is going to be the attraction of the league,”

“It is incredible that such a fantastic player is now back in Leverkusen.”

“I would never have thought that he would sacrifice so much money, and I told him this,”

“He will give us dominance in midfield, a goalscoring threat from free-kicks and the youngsters can learn a great deal from him,”

Leverkusen finished fourth in the Bundseliga last season. Perhap Ballack will give them the edge to push on and win the title?