Ballack shuns United in big money free

Three-goal Tykes stun Terriers

Football League add gloss to Trophy

— The first big money move of the summer sees Michael Ballack complete his ‘free transfer’ from Bayern Munich to Chelsea.
Although the German midfielder was out-of-contract, so will not command a transfer fee, his reported £18million contract over three years suggests it is not exactly a free.
Manchester United had also expressed their interest in the 29 year-old, and his reasoning for choosing a switch to Stamford Bridge is unlikely to go down well at Old Trafford: “United came in quite early for me but I saw the possibilities at Chelsea as being much greater. They’re a much stronger team.”
Bayern won the Bundesliga title in three of his four years at club but fans jeered the three times German Footballer of the Year during his final appearance against Borussia Dortmund having turned down Bayern’s final offer.
Speculation strongly suggests that AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko will soon be following Ballack to the Premiership champions.

— The away teams continue to hold sway in the Play-Offs as a storming second half performance from Barnsley gives them a 3-1 win at Huddersfield Town to go through to the League One Final 3-2 on aggregate.
With Town still holding their one goal advantage from the first leg at half-time, the Tykes struck in spectacular fashion after the interval with goals from Paul Hayes (penalty), Paul Reid and Daniel Nardiello. Jonathan Worthington replied for the Terriers.

— The Football League Trophy - the cup competition for League One, League Two and leading Conference clubs formerly known as the LDV Vans Trophy - is re-named the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy from next season following the announcement of a three-year seven-figure deal.
We’ll get used to it. Eventually.

— Tottenham Hotspur announce a four-year shirt sponsorship deal, said to be worth £34million, with Mansion.
Manchester United had earlier been linked with a similar deal reported to be worth £70million with the internet casino group until it fell through.
United subsequently secured a contract with insurer American International Group worth £56.5million.

— The landmark Belgian court case that is considering whether compensation should be paid to clubs by FIFA when a player is injured on international duty is referred to the European Court of Justice.
The case concerns Abdelmajid Oulmers of Charleroi who was injured while playing for Morocco against Burkina Faso two years ago. He was sidelined for eight months and Charleroi insist the loss of the player hindered their chances of success in the Belgian league and cup.
The G14 group of leading football clubs say they are ‘very happy’ with the referral.
Coincidently on the day that Michael Ballack joins Chelsea on a six-figure weekly wage, the last major case in football to be referred to the European Union’s highest court also started in Belgium.
The Bosman ruling gave out-of-contract players the choice to move freely between clubs.