22.01.2010
Ribery angling for Real Madrid deal
Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery runs with the ball during a Champions League group match against Juventus in the southern German city of Munich in September.
Bayern Munich's French star Franck Ribery is angling for a new deal that would allow him to join Real Madrid if the Spaniards put 40 million euros on the table, AS daily reported.
Ribery "would only renew his (Bayern) contract with a 40 million pro-Real clause" included, according to AS, which added that otherwise "Ribery will not sign".
The paper, citing "sources very close to the player," said that talks were under way between the two clubs regarding an eventual move and that the sum "would be around 40 million euros".
That would be less than the purported 55 million figure bandied around last summer for the former Marseille man, whose contract expires next year.
Ribery has endured a difficult time recently with injuries having kept him sidelined since early October and Bayern coach Louis van Gaal indicated earlier on Friday that he would not start Saturday's match against Werder Bremen but might be brought on from the bench.
Owing to a serious knee problem Ribery, 26, has only made six league appearances this season. He was due to return in December but a foot injury suffered in training prevented him from doing so.
Then in a winter training camp in Dubai he suffered from inflamed toenails that meant he could not even put his boots on.
AS, meanwhile, added that Real were hoping to snap up Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi, reporting that the Italians were ready to sell for financial reasons.
Real are also rumoured to want Racing Santander youngster Sergio Canales but Marca sports daily reported that Real were not prepared to get into an auction for the 18-year-old, who the paper said also interests Manchester City and Chelsea.
Source: © 2010 AFP - John Macdougall
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