English Club Chelsea after Ballack

Meanwhile, Zidane says Ballack is needed in Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich stated that English FC Chelsea is joining the race for Michael Ballack. The German international is set to leave the Bundesliga outfit in the New Year - with Real Madrid expected to land the classy midfielder.

Bayern's vice-president Karl-Heinz Rumenigge said: 'Ballack's future will be decided in January, and he will probably sign for Real Madrid or Chelsea.

'I think he'll decide to play in a high-level championship. Madrid is going through a bad moment, and such a player would do them good to recover their image. Chelsea is a team that is advancing. We hope that it will all be solved in January.'