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The President of Munich Franz Beckenbauer (Franz Beckenbauer) warned the tempting Michael Ballack not to set foot in Old Trafford.
The negotiations for the contract extension with the 29-year-old German midfielder ended in failure. He will be a sought-after "product" in the player market next summer, with interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Milan.
"I heard that he's seriously being considered by Manchester United and AC Milan, but Michael will only improve by joining Real Madrid," said German legend F. Beckenbauer.
"The slightest deviation, and that will be a step back. No matter how much I would like him to stay, I feel like he will leave our club. However, if that happens, a move to Real Madrid would be the smartest decision," said Franz Beckenbauer.
Reacting to harsh criticism from fans, M. Ballack responded, "I just want to listen to offers from other clubs. I never ruled out the possibility of continuing to play for Bayern, and that option will always remain. In fact, I haven't decided anything yet. I only know that this will be the most important contract of my life. It's the last big contract, so I think I have the right to consider all offers. I want to play for a team that will compete for the Champions League trophy in the next few seasons."
Bayern coach Felix Magath still hopes to sign a new contract, but at the annual meeting, club representatives confirmed that they had withdrawn their offer.
Now F. Beckenbauer is most afraid that Bayern fans may turn away from M. Ballack, protesting against his delay in signing a new contract. "He must understand the people - they are infinitely loyal fans who hope that their heroes will remain in their beloved team. They are very hurt by Michael Ballack's reluctance to commit to the club. Don't misunderstand me, he is a wonderful person and has contributed greatly to the club's success."
"But you can't ignore the fact that the fans' attitude towards him is rapidly changing, and I'm afraid that the supporters may start to ignore him. I dare not guess what will happen in the stands during our next matches, but Michael himself wanted this, so he must accept the consequences," said F. Beckenbauer, known as the "Kaiser" in his country.
