Michael Ballack has admitted he regrets leaving Chelsea in 2010 as he planned on retiring at the Premier League club.

The former Germany midfielder had aspirations of ending his career in west London but Chelsea only offered him a one-year deal at the end of the 2009-10 season.

Ballack wanted a two-year contract but Chelsea's policy only allowed players over the age of 30 to sign one-year extensions.

Former Chelsea star Michael Ballack has revealed he regrets leaving the Blues in 2010

Their reluctance to give in to Ballack's demands saw the Germany legend return to Bayer Leverkusen for the final two years of his career but he has revealed he made a mistake.

Ballack, speaking on Sky Sports' Transfer Talk podcast, said: 'Carlo wanted me [to stay] but the club made a decision to only give players of that age a one-year contract. I wanted two.

'Today, I can say maybe it was wrong. I should have stayed, even for that one year.

'I could never imagine that I would go back to [Bayer] Leverkusen. Until the last day, I actually thought we would find a way at Chelsea. I was really hoping I could stay until the end.'

Ballack was pictured back at Chelsea's training ground with boss Frank Lampard in October

Ballack's four-year spell in west London was incredibly successful as he won the Premier League, two FA Cups, the League Cup and the Community Shield.

He was also part of the Chelsea side which finished as runners-up in the Champions League to Manchester United in 2008.

Ballack's Chelsea career ended on a sour note as he sustained an injury in their FA Cup final win over Portsmouth.