Bayern Munich stand firm on Ribery as European giants battle it out for France ace

03 June 2009 12:04
Bayern Munich insist Franck Ribery is not going to be sold this summer. Ribery is a target for a number of leading European sides this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester United in the hunt along with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. But Bayern's new boss Louis van Gaal has told the club he wants to work with the Frenchman next season. French fancy: Franck Ribery (right) has attracted interest from Europe's big guns '"He really wants to keep him,' general manager Uli Hoeness told Munich's Abendzeitung newspaper after holding talks with van Gaal. 'We will not let Ribery go. 'Most clubs only ended their season (recently) and when the players go on holiday, the bosses start with their planning. There will be enquiries for Ribery in the next four to six weeks, I'm sure. Vow: Louis van Gaal 'We will be polite, but we will not negotiate. We are not going to celebrate on the telephone when somebody offers a certain amount.' Van Gaal arrived in Munich on Monday and has also addressed the issue of Luca Toni, who seems to be surplus to requirements following the signing of Mario Gomez from Stuttgart and Ivica Olic from Hamburg. Unlike with Ribery, Hoeness would not hang up the phone immediately on an offer for the Italian. 'In general, four strikers are enough, but if we have five, then we have five,' he added. 'We will not be sending anybody away. But if somebody comes to us and wants one of our strikers, then we will talk.'

Source: Daily_Mail