Michael Ballack still bitter over blocked Barcelona move

Michael Ballack has admitted that he is still angered by Bayern Munich's decision to block his proposed move to Barcelona in 2004.

The midfielder looked to be nearing a move to the Spanish champions following the conclusion of Euro 2004, only for Bayern president Uli Hoeness to pull the plug on the deal at the last minute.

"Yes, it's a shame that in 2004 I could not complete my transfer," Ballack told Mundo Deportivo. "We had reached an agreement with the club and we had the approval of Uli Hoeness but I was ultimately thwarted in signing that summer.

"Of course, I was angry and disappointed that Bayern had given the OK to my departure to Barcelona, which was all agreed.

"Sometimes I think of what it would have been like to play with [Lionel] Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and Barca's other stars."

Ballack eventually left Bayern on a free transfer in 2006 for Chelsea.