Ribery prefers to join Madrid

Asked about the rumours linking Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (26) with a move to Spain (read more here), the player's agent Alain Migliaccio has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that the Frenchman prefers to join Real Madrid:

"Ribéry rather prefers to play at Real Madrid than at Barcelona. The player has talked with Zinédine Zidane and because of him he wants to join Madrid. At this moment, everything is put on hold because the people of Bayern are on holidays until the end of the month. I cannot tell you anything more until after we've met with them in the coming weeks."

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Barcelona bid for Ribery

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has made a bid for Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (26).

Barcelona would have offered Bayern Munich a transfer fee of 40 million euro°, with the option to include players in the deal. The German club is yet to reply. Ribéry and his agent would also have been informed about the offer.

Ribéry's agent Alain Migliaccio is meanwhile unconfirmedly quoted as saying a few days ago in an interview with Monaco radio station RMC that the Frenchman can at the highest cost 50 million euro: "If you see that Kaká has been signed for 67 million, you cannot ask more than 50 million for a player who never has won the Champions League and never was between the top players on the list of the FIFA world player of the year."

Asked about the rumours linking Ribéry with several European top clubs, Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness said in an interview with Munich tabloid TZ that they are reluctant to sell unless: "We have said that we will only negotiate under certain conditions. Namely, when the other club wants to do crazy things." The tabloid claims that Bayern will only consider a bid of well over 60 million euro.

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New sponsor deal Ribery causes transfer rumours

German tabloid Bild claims that Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribery (25) has signed a new sponsorship deal with sports supplier Nike.

Ribéry would have extended the contract that expires in 2010 until 2014, which was confirmed to the tabloid by Nike spokesman Olaf Markoff. The Frenchman would receive a fee of 1,2 million euro a year.

Bild claims that Ribéry could have broken a clause in his contract with Bayern that states that when his original deal with Nike runs out in 2010, he would have to change to Bayern sponsor Adidas if the German sports supplier offered him the same terms. Adidas could nevertheless have given up the race after a meeting between Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer and Alain Migliaccio, the agent of Ribéry.

Asked if Ribéry is preparing a move to a "Nike team" (read more here), Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the tabloid that this doesn't change the club's stand: "His sponsorship contract does not affect our contractual relationship with Franck Ribéry. Nothing has changed: we are not letting him go under any circumstances."

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Hleb could be part of Ribery deal

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona will make a bid of 30 million euro° for Bayern Munich wing attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25).

Although Bayern Munich refused last summer a 40 million euro bid by Chelsea for Ribéry, the German club could now agree with a transfer as a consecuence of the pressure by the player.

The paper claims that Barcelona has made the player a contract offer for four (plus two) years including a fixed year salary of 5 million euro.

One of Ribéry's agents, Jean-Pierre Bernès, didn't want to confirm or deny that he has been holding talks with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain since last month (read more here), although he said that Barcelona is a possible destination for Ribéry if he would leave Bayern.

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge would meanwhile have asked for Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27) (read more here) and Barcelona president Joan Laporta would have said that the player is for sale.

Barcelona, that paid 15 (plus 3) million euro for Hleb last year, would now asking a transfer fee between 14 and 18 million euro°. The transfer of Hleb could be used to lower the transfer price of Ribéry, although Hleb seems to prefer at this moment a return to the English Premier League or a move to Italy.

Asked about the new rumours linking Ribéry with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Alain Miglaccio has also said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that Barcelona is one of the options for the player: "If Ribéry leaves, it will be to go to a club like Barcelona, where you have only great players. To play at Barça would be something phenomenal for him, like for every football player."

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Deal with Ribery and pre-agreement with Bayern

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has reached an agreement with Bayern Munich wing attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25).

Ribery would be the the first option of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola who is looking to sign a winger and the player would like to be part of a more competitive team.

Barcelona would therefore already have found a deal with the Frenchman's agent on the duration of the contract and the salary the player will receive. Ribery would sign a contract for the next four seasons, until the summer of 2013.

Bayern Munich nevertheless wouldn't be willing to let the player go and the negotiations with the German club are expected to be very difficult. The fact that Bayern Munich is interested in some Barcelona players that might leave the club could make the talks a little easier (read more here).

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has already reached a formal pre-agreement with Bayern Munich for the transfer of Ribéry, who is represented by Jean-Pierre Bernès and Alain Migliaccio, although the deal will only be finalized at the end of the season. The good relationship between the presidents of both clubs, Franz Beckenbauer and Joan Laporta, would have helped in the negotiations.

There would be unanimity among Barcelona officials and staff members that Ribéry should be a top transfer target for next season. The player likes the attacking style of Guardiola's team and Barcelona left back defender Eric Abidal is a close friend of Ribéry. The French winger has made clear that he wants to leave this summer and Bayern would have accepted that they cannot keep the player any longer.

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Barcelona asked for now Roma player Menez

Alain Migliaccio, the agent of AS Roma attacking midfielder and French youth international Jérémy Menez (21), has said in an interview with Italian radio station Radio Incontro that Barcelona was amongst the interested clubs this summer:

"Monaco had offered Menez a renewal for two or three more years, but he didn't accept the proposal. Chelsea, AC Milan and Barcelona have been asking for him but his father started serious negotiations with Roma since June. Roma assistant coach Daniele Baldini had been following the player for over a year.

He joined Roma because he knew he would play there, not always as a starter but he would nevertheless have his minutes, while this would be unlikely to happen at Chelsea or Barcelona, where he would have players like Messi and Eto'o before him and so very little opportunities."

At the end of August, Menez left French club Monaco and signed a four-year contract with AS Roma. The Italian club paid a transfer fee of around 12,5 million euro°.

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