Online
Bookmaker GameBookers Bids to Keep Ballack at
Bayern
Gamebookers.com, the leading
European bookmaker, today announced that they
have made an offer to Bayern Munich to cover
the difference in wages between the money allegedly
offered by Chelsea and Bayern Munich's bid in
order to keep Michael Ballack at Bayern.
The
unprecedented deal would see the company pick
up the difference per week in wages to Ballack,
and would make Gamebookers a key sponsor of
Bayern Munich.
The
deal offered to Munich and Ballack is similar
to the revolutionary deal Gamebookers recently
signed with Greek Basketball club Aris. The
company bought Vladimir Petrovic for Aris in
November 2005, and pays the player's wages for
the club.
Ballack
with 61 caps is the German national team captain
and moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of
2002 from Bayer Leverkusen after a successful
Champions League campaign during which he lead
the club to the final before being beaten 2-1
by Real Madrid.
John
O'Malia, the Chairman of Gamebookers commented,
'We figured, why buy the front of a shirt when
you can buy a player? Ballack is the finest
player of his generation in Germany, and if
Bayern lost his services it would be a great
loss to both Bayern and to the Bundesliga. If
Bayern accept our offer, it will be the beginning
of a fantastic new partnership with Munich,
and to keep Ballack in Germany, especially with
the 2006 World Cup finals coming up, this would
represent a superb achievement for sport in
Germany and for Gamebookers.'
O'Malia
added, 'Furthermore, Gamebookers bettors love
the great football played by Bayern Munich,
and we are committed to ensuring that the quality
of football at Bayern and in the Bundesliga
doesn't suffer at the hands of other European
clubs with fatter wallets. It's our way of giving
back something to the beautiful game, as well
as to our punters.'
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