Ribery reveals Chelsea and United bids but pledges loyalty to Bayern

17 August 2009 11:00
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has slammed the door firmly shut on a possible departure from the Bundesliga club.   Ribery has been one of the hottest properties this summer with big-spending Real Madrid one of the clubs doing their utmost to prise the France international away from Bayern.  Speculation was rife that Ribery wanted to leave, preferably for Madrid, and Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer publicly questioned his loyalty.  However, the 26-year-old insists he never wanted to move to the Bernabeu.  'I never said I wanted to leave to Real Madrid, Ribery said. 'If I wanted to leave, I would have announced it.   'What bothers me is that I never spoke. Newspapers invent a lot of things. I can't prevent clubs from making offers. Moreover, there wasn't just Real. There were also Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea.   'What I can tell them is that today I am still at Bayern. The doors are truly closed. My bosses really want me to stay. Ribery is under contract at the Allianz Arena until 2011. 

Source: Daily_Mail