Sounders Transfer Rumor: Michael Ballack Not Being Pursued

by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 17, 2012 9:19 AM PST in Sounders: Trades, Transfers and Rumors

The Seattle Sounders have confirmed they are not pursuing a transfer for Michael Ballack. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Not to be too much of a wet blanket, but rumors that the Seattle Sounders are pursuing Michael Ballack appear to have no basis in reality. At least, that's the plainly obvious way to read comments Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer made to Sounder at Heart.

"Although Michael Ballack is a player that we have admired for many years, he is not a player that we are currently pursuing," Hanauer said in an email.

Ballack has often been mentioned in connection to the Sounders, presumably because the front office is believed to have an affinity for German players (although no German has ever played here) and many would like to see them add more of an attack-minded central midfielder. The source in the Goal.com article that identifies the Sounders as pursuing Ballack could very well be using those criteria or just making stuff up.

Sounders fans should probably be somewhat relieved by this news. Not only would Ballack be expensive -- he's reportedly hoping to get somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million a year -- but he's also 35 years old and has not been allowed to go 90 minutes in a game since Dec. 17.

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I am relieved

If this was pre-injury that kept him out of the World Cup and when he played for Chelsea, I would have been excited. He absolutely hasn’t been the same player since. Not that a guy like him can’t make an impact in MLS…but my gut tells me he wouldn’t exactly have a dream stay here.

by chrisperry1983 on Feb 17, 2012 9:32 AM PST reply actions

OOOOOhhhh yeah

Totally agree

by chrisperry1983 on Feb 17, 2012 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

For much less than Ballack would cost

We could get an athletic central midfielder from the Brazilian or Argentine league (Juninho-esque) that would fit the team’s general direction much better, in my opinion.

The return of THIERRY

by Kyle Ritter on Feb 17, 2012 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

Not Our Style

I’d be shocked if we signed a player of Ballack’s pedigree. The Sounders FO seems to pride themselves more on identifying, and building from, young talent. Not to mention the fact that I think Sigi has grown a bit weary of adding big salary guys to the locker room, which can create a rift amongst the players.

by WesMagee on Feb 17, 2012 9:45 AM PST reply actions

Not our style, anymore

We tried this with Ljunberg and Nkufo and it just didn’t jive, but as far as “pedigree” goes I’d say that Flaco and Mauro have some of the best credentials in MLS. Who’s the say why it didn’t work out with Nkufo or Ljunberg but I just don’t see Ballack fitting in here at his age.

@Emerald_Sounder

by Disco_Stew on Feb 17, 2012 10:13 AM PST up reply actions

To be fair to Nkufo

He wasn’t making a huge salary by international (or DP) standards. Being overpaid wasn’t his problem. He just didn’t want to play TF the way Sigi needed him to play it here in the overly physical MLS.

by Dizzo on Feb 17, 2012 3:16 PM PST up reply actions

Oh I agree

I just dont buy the notion of “high priced players screw up a locker room.” It was obvious he lost his desire, sucks for us but it’s not like we could force him to play. I think our FO is open to buy players like Ballack but first and foremost they need to be a good fit.

@Emerald_Sounder

by Disco_Stew on Feb 17, 2012 3:55 PM PST up reply actions

It's not really the big salary so much as the personality

There was nothing stopping Nkufo or Ljungberg from having he same attitude that Mauro Rosales had in coming to the Sounders, but they had a much different attitude for whatever reason. Rosales was probably a little more prepared for what to expect coming to MLS since (I believe) Dario Sala was/is his agent. The big salary definitely provides an opportunity for friction, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult situation.

by ubelmann on Feb 17, 2012 10:20 AM PST up reply actions

History probably a big factor

In just comparing Mauro to Nkufo/Ljungberg, I think the players’ recent history likely plays the strongest role. Nkufo had just been given a statue and Ljungberg still had good EPL street cred. In contrast, Mauro came in just looking for a team to play for! Surprising for a player of his talent level, but he was just happy to make the team. Nkufo/Ljungberg probably felt they had little to prove.

I think you’re right that personality really comes in to play here (versus salary), but each players history established current attitudes.

by WesMagee on Feb 17, 2012 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

The only reason I would be excited about this...

is that it would indicate that we are still pursuing (or at least open to) the idea of improving a position through a major DP signing. I agree with the posts above…Ballack is way too big a risk and also well beyond his prime. But, for $4-6M, we could find some serious value. If Inter continues their implosion, Forlan maybe? (also a risk with injuries…but man…).

by exSlacker on Feb 17, 2012 10:27 AM PST reply actions