Ribery signs for Bayern
Ribery in action for Les Bleus
Also In The News
|
David Beckham created two goals as England eased the pressure on Steve McClaren with a 3-0 win over Estonia in Euro 2008 qualifying Group E in Tallinn. |  |
Thursday, 07, Jun 2007 11:02
Franck Ribery has become the latest part of Bayern Munich's rebuilding programme as the German giants tied up a £17 million deal to take the French international winger from Marseille.
The fee is the largest ever paid out by the Bundesliga side and indicates manager Ottmar Hitzfeld's determination to bounce back from a torrid domestic campaign that finished without Champions League qualification.
Ribery, who was believed to also be a target for Real Madrid and Arsenal, joins Italy striker Luca Toni at the Allianz Arena with Werder Bremen forward Miroslav Klose set to complete a formidable forward line.
Hamit Altintop, Jan Schlaudraff, Jose Ernesto Sosa and Marcell Jansen have also been recruited in a busy summer in Bavaria.
"Everything went well. I am happy I could help Munich," Ribery said on arriving at his new home.
His former employers were less pleased about the switch however, with Marseille chairman Pape Diouf questioning Ribery's loyalty after two years, 60 appearances and 11 goals for L'OM.
"We have helped Franck to get where he is today and we are not really happy to let him go," Diouf told his club's official website.
But he managed to find a positive side to a transaction that may enable the French outfit to come to an agreement with Liverpool over the future of forward Djibril Cisse.
"It's a good financial operation for the club, which proves Marseille can adapt to a market that is not easy."