June 9, 2010
Rivals beginning to circle after Chelsea release Joe Cole and Michael Ballack

Chelsea will confirm today the imminent departures of Joe Cole and Michael Ballack on free transfers after the pair failed to agree new contracts at Stamford Bridge.

The club have been negotiating for several months with the players' representatives over extensions to contracts that expire this summer, but have been unable to agree terms and the players will leave as free agents on July 1.

Chelsea's surprise announcement will spark a scramble for their signatures as, despite falling out of favour in West London, both players are very much in demand. Cole recovered from a disappointing domestic season to earn a place in England's World Cup squad and is in contention to start their opening match of the tournament, against the United States on Saturday, while Ballack would have been in South Africa as Germany captain had he not injured his ankle in Chelsea's FA Cup Final win over Portsmouth.

Cole has attracted strong levels of interest from Chelsea's leading rivals in the Premier League, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur set to follow up their initial inquiries. Given Cole's desire to stay in London and the appeal of being reunited with Harry Redknapp, White Hart Lane appears to be his most likely destination because Tottenham, unlike Arsenal and Liverpool, would have little problem matching his wage demands. An offer to work with Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford would, however, be hard to turn down.

Ballack will leave England after four seasons at Chelsea. He, too, will have no shortage of suitors. Werder Bremen have made clear their desire to bring him back to Germany and José Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, has contacted his representatives to examine the possibility of Ballack joining Real Madrid. Several wealthy clubs in the United Arab Emirates Pro League are also preparing to make him an offer.

Cole's future at Chelsea looked bleak for most of the season, with contract talks breaking down after Christmas. Cole had been holding out for a £20,000-a-week pay rise to £100,000, but Chelsea refused to budge, to such an extent that the initial offer of £85,000 a week was withdrawn.

Ballack, 33, was seeking a new two-year contract that would enable him to play on at the highest level until the 2012 European Championship, an even more important aspiration after missing the World Cup finals, whereas Chelsea were willing to give him only another year. He offered to take a big pay cut and make the second year contingent upon him playing a large number of games next season, but Chelsea refused to back down.


아직 첼시 공식 사이트에는 안 올라왔다. 오늘 밤 쯤에 올라오려나.

이런 거 저런 거 다 보기 싫고 그냥 은퇴했으면 하는 마음 반,
그래도 미샤가 뛰고 싶다는데, 그리고 미샤 뛰는 모습을 계속 볼 수 있으니까, 선수 생활 조금이라도 계속했으면 하는 마음 반이다.

눈물이 나는 건 어쩔 수 없다.

저 기사 중에 베르더가 미샤를 원한다는 소리가 있는데,
우리야 걸핏하면 "미샤야 브레멘에 등번호 13번 비어 있다. 브레멘 와라~" 타령하던 사람들이지만
기사 출처가 아무리 UK Times여도 그 말은 못 믿겠다.
쟤네들도 분데스리가에 무지할 거라고 89% 확신하기 때문. 아마도 샬케와 혼동한 거라고 추측해 본다.
빌트에도 안 올라오는 루머/추측/소망까지 올라오는 베르더 포럼의 영입 관련 스레드에도 미샤 이름은 올라온 적이 없다.

* 오후에 추가
- 베르더 포럼에서도 UK Times가 샬케와 브레멘을 혼동했을 거라는 의견이 우세한 가운데,
미샤 스레드가 생겼다;;;

- 알로프스가 부인했다는 기사도 떴다.

- 그리고 첼시 공식 사이트에서 미샤가 떠난다고 정식으로 발표했다.
MICHAEL BALLACK TO LEAVE CHELSEA