Ballack staying at Bayern

The Germany international midfielder's agent Michael Becker has revealed the news to the German press.

Ballack has been in talks with the Catalan side and had been expected to finalise a move to Camp Nou after Euro 2004.

Becker says that he has now stopped the talks with Barca and says that Ballack will be staying with Bayern.

"I have stopped all negotiations with Barcelona," Becker told Bild.

"Michael has a contract until 2006 and if Bayern want to keep hold of him then I won't do anything more as far as a transfer is concerned."

The Catalan giants had made what Becker described as a 'serious offer' for the midfielder, but Bayern's valuation of the former Bayer Leverkusen player has now made a summer deal impossible.

Barcelona were reported to have a offered around ‚é¼10 million for Ballack, but Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said that the club would only start listening to offers upwards of ‚é¼50 million.

Barca have just agreed a fee for Monaco playmaker Ludovic Giuly and Frank Rijkaard's side will not be continuing the chase for Ballack.