Bayern holds on to Ribery

Asked about the rumours linking Bayern Munich wing attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said in an interview with German sports newsagency Sid that the German club isn't planning to sell the player in the summer:

"Ribéry will stay with Bayern Munich. You just have to look at the facts to know that. Franck Ribéry has signed a contract until 30 June 2011. And we are not willing to release him earlier. For no money in the world.

I won't react to what his agent would have said. I only notice that two weeks ago, Real Madrid was the team Ribéry supposedly wanted to join and now that Real hasn't done well in the Champions League 1/8 finals, the discussion suddenly goes in another direction. You see the picture? I think that some people are playing their own game here.

My friend Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, has me immediately contacted after some stories were published. He assured me and Bayern that there's no truth at all in these rumours. Neither the player, nor his agent, nor anyone else has been contacted by Barcelona.

Franck is dealing with the rumours in a totally correct way. He doesn't like the fact that his name is being used in headlines by domestic and foreign media over and over again. He wants to focus again and exclusively on his game and the targets he has set with Bayern."

Asked about the matter, Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer nevertheless said earlier this week in an interview with German tabloid Bild that he is concerned that Ribery is been pushing for an exit in the summer:

"It's always the same problem when a player wants to leave. When he puts a gun against the club's chest, you don't have a lot of choice. With Ribéry you could get the impression that he's lately acting with a certain goal in mind. But Bayern have been dependent on him for a long time now. Without him, we're not the same team."

Read more:
Hleb could be part of Ribery deal
Txiki talks about the summer transfer market
Barcelona denies deal with Ribery

Henrique could stay one more year with Bayer

German sports newsagency Sid claims, based upon unconfirmed Spanish sources, that Bayer Leverkusen central defender and Barcelona loan out Henrique (22) will stay one more year at the German club.

That would have been agreed upon during a meeting last weekend between Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Bayer Leverkusen officials.

German sports weekly paper Kicker claims that Begiristain met with Bayer Leverkusen sports director Rudi Völler and Bayer general manager Michael Reschke on Sunday to discuss the future of Henrique. If Henrique would return to Barcelona, Barcelona defender and Uruguay international Martín Cáceres (21) could join the German club on loan next season (read more here).

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Begiristain has told Henrique that the club wants him to start the pre-season with Barcelona next summer. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would then later decide if the Brazilian defender will join the team next season or will be loaned out for another year.

Read more:
Begiristain in Germany to watch Henrique
Henrique will start next pre-season in Barcelona
Leverkusen wants to keep Henrique one more year