Ballack rumours dismissed as rubbish

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP):

Bayer Leverkusen says they have not received a bid for Michael Ballack and have no intention of releasing the former Germany captain.

Ballack did not come off the bench in Saturday's 1-0 win in Stuttgart. Some German media have speculated that the 34-year-old midfielder was close to leaving the club, perhaps for Wolfsburg.

Leverkusen's director Rudi Voeller tells the German news agency dapd that there has been no offer for Ballack and that he will "definitely" still be a Leverkusen player after the end of the transfer period on August 31.