England’s injury-hit squad face their biggest game under Steve McClaren this Saturday as they host Israel at Wembley. Click here for the latest betting.

Bernd Schuster has admitted that Real Madrid were not willing to pay Michael Ballack’s agent a sizeable fee or match his wages at Chelsea.

The German coach was hoping to sign Balllack in the summer, but he was put off by Ballack’s exorbitant demands.

“The problem is that his agent earns as much as some players: £1million,” Schuster told AS.

“That, along with Ballack joining Chelsea on a free transfer and having a huge contract, meant that signing him was impossible.”

Schuster then reflected on the unrest caused by the departure from Real of a number of highly-rated youth team players.

Ivan De la Red and Esteban Granero joined Getafe, while Celta Vigo landed Adrian and Javi Garcia signed for Osasuna.

“I would really have liked to have given De la Red a chance because he has not played in la Primera, but in the end, with 25 players in the squad, he had to leave,” he continued.

“But nobody should think that we are killing off the chances of the youth team players just because Adrian or Granero have left.

“It would have been easy to keep them, but what is achieved if these boys spend a year in the stands.

“It is much better if they play in the first division if there is a chance for them to do that.”


England’s injury-hit squad face their biggest game under Steve McClaren this Saturday as they host Israel at Wembley. Click here for the latest betting.