Van Gaal unsure on Ribery

Bayern boss admits French star could leave

Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Van Gaal unsure on Ribery

Ribery: Uncertain future

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Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal admits he has no idea whether Franck Ribery will stay at the club.

The France international continues to be a hot topic of conversation, with his future in Germany very much up in the air.

Speculation suggests he is set to be on his way out of Allianz Arena in the summer, with an orderly queue of potential suitors already lying in wait.

Bayern have admitted that they will sell if Ribery fails to sign a new deal by the end of the season, while the player remains coy on his long-term plans.

The 26-year-old playmaker has recently returned to Van Gaal's first-team fold after an injury-hit season, but the Dutch coach accepts that he may not be able to call on the Frenchman for long.

Difficult

"If I look at him doing everything to be fit for the game against Fiorentina, then I think he will stay," Van Gaal told Sat.1.

"If I then read the newspapers I think he won't stay. It is difficult. If he wants to go we should sell him now, because it brings in money and is good for Bayern."

Ribery is keen to see his personal ambitions matched by Bayern before he commits to any deal, and admits he is pleased with the progress being made this term.

A place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals was secured on Tuesday, after the away goals rule saw them past Fiorentina following a 4-4 aggregate draw, and that level of success may yet persuade him to remain in Germany.

"It was very important for us to go through," he said.

Solidarity

"We knew that it was not going to be an easy game and the weather didn't help us either, particularly in the first half when it was very tough.

"We showed a great team performance with a lot of solidarity.

"As a team, together we can achieve a lot."

While Bayern were delighted to book their place in the next round, they have been dealt an untimely blow with the news that Mario Gomez is set for a spell on the sidelines.

The Germany international striker ruptured a calf muscle against Fiorentina and could be out of action for up to three weeks.