Manchester United and Chelsea's hopes fade as Franck Ribery commits to Bayern Munich

16 August 2009 14:34
Ribery has been the subject of intense speculation all summer, with Real Madrid to the fore as well as the two Premier League title challengers. "I can't stop clubs making offers for me, and it was not only Real," Ribery said. "There was also Barcelona, Manchester (United) and Chelsea. What I can tell them is that I am still at Bayern today. The doors are truly shut. My directors really want me to stay." Real president Florentino Perez secured several transfer signings, including Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United, Kaka from AC Milan and France forward Karim Benzema from Lyon, but Ribery insists that he is staying put for now. "I never said I wanted to join Real Madrid. If I had wanted to leave, I would have said so," Ribery said. "What bothers me is that I never said anything." Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and manager Uli Hoeness turned down an offer of €80 million last month from Madrid for the 26-year-old. Recently, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer apologised for making comments that appeared to question Ribery's commitment. Beckenbauer had said of Ribery that "he's a Frenchman; Munich is all the same to him." But Rummenigge and Hoeness later defended Ribery and praised his dedication and professionalism. Ribery, who has only just recovered from knee tendinitis, came off the bench midway through the second half in Bayern's 1-1 home draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday. He made a substitute appearance for France in Wednesday's 1-0 win at the Faeroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier.

Source: Telegraph