Former Germany and Bayern Munich star Stefan Effenberg has urged Michael Ballack to quit Chelsea.

Effenberg said: "I do not believe that Ballack has a future with Chelsea any more. If so important a player is not nominated for the Champions League, that says everything about his value.

"I do not know what exactly happened there, but I can imagine that influential fellow players made a stand against him.

"Chelsea do not want Ballack any more. They have shown that openly. If nothing fundamental changes in his situation, he must look around for alternatives and then ask in the winter for his release."