RUMMENIGGE REVEALS BALLACK PRICE

The German international recently confirmed he will quit Bayer Leverkusen for Bayern in the summer, with reports claiming a fee of around £9 million had been agreed.

However, Rummenigge has responded by revealing what they are to pay, telling Die Welt: "I'm very surprised about the price that has been mentioned.

"We actually usually have no comment on transfer fees, but we are not paying 28 million, rather 12 million marks (£3.75 million) for the transfer fee. And not a mark more."

Ballack also revealed that Bayern's president Franz Beckenbauer persuaded him not to sign for Real Madrid.

Given the midfield talent on view at Santiago Bernabeu, buying yet another in the guise of Ballack would appear to be stockpiling on Real's part. 

"Real Madrid had offered me more money but Franz Beckembauer persuaded me to stay in Germany. Thanks to him during the 2006 World Cup I will be playing in Germany and I think that the more players from Bayern Munich, the higher the level of our national squad will be.

"I dream of winning the World Cup in 2006.  No player thinks only of money.  Bayern is the current German league champions, Champions League champions and Intercontinental Cup champions.

"Here I can improve a lot.  Regarding going to a foreign club I can do it when my contract expires in four years."