Michael Ballack attempted to avoid paying a speeding fine today by insisting that he did not have the necessary funds because he is currently out of work.

Having been caught doing 131mph near the Spanish town of Trujillo on October 17, the 36-year-old was charged by the local authorities and was told to appear in court the next day.

It was then that he was informed that he faced a two-year driving ban and a fine of around £8,000.

However, in a second court hearing this morning, legal representatives of Ballack asked if the ex-Germany captain could only pay a tenth of that figure because he does not currently have a regular income following his release from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of last season.

"Just because he is a famous footballer doesn't mean he has any money coming in," said lawyer Jesus Gallego Rol.

During Ballack's four-year stint with Chelsea, he was earning around £120,000 per week, according to the Daily Mail.

He was not present in court because his crime does not carry a prison sentence.