Sport | Football
Arsenal and Bayern eye Frenchman Ribery
Franck Ribery is a man in demand. The France winger, who is in Dubai for winter training with his club Marseille, looked to be in good form in his side's match against Lazio in the Mohammad Bin Rashid International Football tournament recently.
- By Sarah Tregoning, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 January 11, 2007
- Franck Ribery of Marseille (right) could well be a hot property in the transfer market soon.
- Image Credit: Regi Varghese/GUlf News
Dubai: Franck Ribery is a man in demand.
The France winger, who is in Dubai for winter training with his club Marseille, looked to be in good form in his side's match against Lazio in the Mohammad Bin Rashid International Football tournament recently.
While a tired Marseille, who played a game just 48 hours before taking to the pitch at Al Ahli Club on Tuesday, failed, Ribery showed why is sought after by both Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
Lazio beat the French club 3-1 after looking the quieter team in the first half. Goals came from Stefano Mauri and Stephen Makinwa while Pasquale Foggia scored a penalty. Samir Nasri scored Marseille's solitary goal.
The 23-year-old Ribery, who sports a scar on the right side of his face after being thrown through the windshield during a car crash when he was two years old, has a contract with Marseille until 2010.
But reports from England say that Arsenal's coach Arsene Wenger is desperate to sign the former Galatasaray player and would even be prepared to sacrifice current Gunner Freddie Ljungberg to make way for the Frenchman. And back in Dubai, Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness confirmed that his club was interested in the player, but wouldn't say if negotiations had been initiated.
"I know the Marseille president [Diouf] will inform me if Ribery leaves, but we haven't had any indication that that will happen. Sure, he would be a great player for Bayern."
But recent comments from Marseille must give both Wenger and Hoeness hope that a Ribery move is imminent.
Marseille President Pape Diouf said: "I know Bayern are very interested. While we are keen to keep him, it is possible he could leave at the end of the season."
After shining in France's World Cup campaign, Ribery caught the eye of many top-flight clubcoaches.
Share this article
Popular in Sport
-
Sport
A round with Pacquiao
In the ring with Manny Pacquiao to see what makes this boxer tick
Sport Editor's choice
-
Injury forces Casey out of Dubai event
Player to miss out on finishing at the top of the European Tour money list
-
First-class venue for cricket: Al Dhaid
Bukhatir speaks on changing trend of the game around the world
-
Nadal on song against Tsonga
Spaniard silences critics with 7-5, 7-5 win to set up encounter with Djokovic
