Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Bayern have no plans to sell Ribery

Logo of Bayer Leverkusen / German football teamImage via Wikipedia
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes it is essential to keep hold of Franck Ribery if the German club are to carry out their plan to challenge the European supremacy of Barcelona.





Franck Ribery: Six goals and nine assists
Ribery has already helped Bayern reach the semi-finals of the Champions League this season but his current contract expires next year when he will be able to leave the Allianz Arena on a free transfer.



The 27-year-old France international, who has said he has not yet made up his mind over his future, has been strongly linked with a move to Spain and it was assumed, should he not extend his contract, that Bayern would prefer to cash in on their prized asset this summer rather than risk losing him for nothing.
"We will hold talks. Our clear aim is still to extend the contract," Rummenigge told German newspaper Bild. "But if we do not achieve that, it doesn't automatically mean that we will sell Franck this summer.
"We want to have a team next season who achieve their goals domestically and internationally take another step forward. We have the goal in the future not to travel humbly to Barcelona but rather with a chance of being at the same level. Franck is necessary to do that."

Rummenigge also insisted Arjen Robben would be staying put, the Dutchman having enjoyed a brilliant debut season in Munich.

"Arjen's contract here has three more years to run," Rummenigge said. "He is very happy. His father said to me, 'Perhaps he would have been better coming to you three years ago'."

Rummenigge also ruled out a summer bid for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, who has been linked with a switch to Chelsea.
"I think Dzeko is a very good player, but we will not go there this year," he said. "We have no problems in attack. With (Toni) Kroos (on loan at Bayer Leverkusen this season) we have a touch more quality and more options tactically."
Bayern are still in contention for the Bundesliga title, the DFB Pokal and the Champions League in coach Louis van Gaal's first season in charge, and Rummenigge is hoping for an extended period of success with the Dutchman at the helm.



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