Michael Ballack has admitted that he is still angered by Bayern Munich's decision to block his proposed move to Barcelona in 2004.
The midfielder looked to be nearing a move to the Spanish champions following the conclusion of Euro 2004, only for Bayern president Uli Hoeness to pull the plug on the deal at the last minute.
"Yes, it's a shame that in 2004 I could not complete my transfer," Ballack told Mundo Deportivo. "We had reached an agreement with the club and we had the approval of Uli Hoeness but I was ultimately thwarted in signing that summer.
"Of course, I was angry and disappointed that Bayern had given the OK to my departure to Barcelona, which was all agreed.
"Sometimes I think of what it would have been like to play with [Lionel] Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and Barca's other stars."
Ballack eventually left Bayern on a free transfer in 2006 for Chelsea.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
