Real don't need Ballack, says Butragueno
Afp, Berlin
Real Madrid appear to have cooled their interest in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack with club vice-president Emilio Butragueno claiming the current squad is strong enough.German international captain Ballack is available on a free transfer at the end of the season after refusing to sign a four-year contract extension at Bayern and Madrid was thought to be his next stop. "Michael Ballack is without a doubt one of the best players in the world," Butragueno said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag. "But our current squad is well-equipped to get out of the tricky position we find ourselves in." Spanish giants Real are fourth in the domestic league, 13 points behind their arch rivals Barcelona.
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