Real step up Ballack chase

For the first time, Real Madrid have agreed that they attempted to sign German international midfielder Michael Ballack in the summer. The stumbling block for Real was his supposed £135,000 a week wages that Chelsea pay.

Ballack had been linked with a move to Real Madrid as early as July.

According to new coach Bernd Schuster, "Ballack has an excellent contract with Chelsea that would bust Real's salary structure.

"No player here is in that range and we didn't want to go there."

Real Madrid's wage structure would have been unable to match Michael Ballack's current salary and prevented the player from signing.

However, Ballack has not played for Chelsea since April, and it is believed he is very much out of favour at Chelsea. Jose Mourinho excluded Ballack from his initial 23-man Champions League squad.

It is believed that Real Madrid will make another attempt to sign the player in January. Bernd Schuster confirmed this, "The door for Michael is not closed.

"He has his soccer qualities and they will be there in six months as well. But it would be a financial story."