THE Bayern Munich defender Markus Babbel has turned down an offer to join Manchester United, saying the Premiership champions were not offering him enough money.

Bayern manager Uli Hoeness confirmed yesterday that he had received an offer from United for the £5 million-rated Babbel.

But the 24-year-old player subsequently announced that he was not interested in the offer from Old Trafford as it stands.

"Under these conditions, I have no interest," said Babbel after negotiations with United officials in Germany. "I am already playing with a top club and don't need to leave at any cost."

The German media has reported that Babbel wanted a salary of £1.5 million per year over three years, while United were offering a total of £1.8 million over three years.

"If the other two sides had reached an agreement, we would have let Babbel go," said Hoeness, who had already agreed a fee with United.

Babbel has now gone on holiday, but said negotiations could continue with United through his lawyer Andreas Gross.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has warned that he is prepared to go to court to force Barcelona to release Brazilian striker Ronaldo from his contract.

Inter struck a deal with Ronaldo's agents last week, agreeing to pay a reported world-record fee of £16.25 million. The Spanish club, however, have since claimed that the buy-out clause was only valid for moves within Spain and could not be extended to other countries.

"I'm willing to meet and talk with anyone," said Moratti. "But if the aim of the meeting was to ask for more money, there would be no point. We've got strikers, and if in the end Ronaldo didn't come, we would go into the market for another.

But he added: "Ronaldo mustn't let himself get distracted by all this. He should just stay calm and if his wish is to come to Inter, then he'll come."