THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS — Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery says he wants to join Real Madrid.
The France international midfielder wants a move sorted out quickly, and has ruled out the possibility of joining any other club.
"It’s decided, I want to leave," Ribery told sports daily L’Equipe on Thursday. "Yes, it will be to Real or nothing."
Real Madrid has already spent massive sums in this off-season, signing Kaka from AC Milan, Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Karim Benzema from Lyon, along with defender Raul Albiol from Valencia.
"I would like a discussion with the Bayern directors fairly quickly," the 26-year-old Ribery said.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hadn’t completely ruled out Ribery’s departure in previous comments, but this time Rummenigge reacted strongly by insisting Ribery will not leave.
"This is how I interpret Franck’s statement: either Real or nothing. And our clear response is: Nothing," Rummenigge was quoted on the website of Munich daily TZ. "We are not anxious. Franck is staying."
Ribery has played 38 games for France, scoring seven goals, including in both 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania earlier this year — both tight 1-0 wins settled by Ribery’s goals.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has overseen 209 million euros (C$338.4 million) in transfer spending since assuming the presidency on June 1 — with a record 80 million pounds (C$151.2 million) for Ronaldo alone.
Perez, who in his first stint in the presidency put together Real Madrid’s ‘Galacticos’ squad including Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Brazil striker Ronaldo, has embarked on a similar plan to bring success back to Madrid. Last season, fierce rival Barcelona won the Spanish domestic double and the Champions League.
On Tuesday, Kaka was given a Hollywood-style welcome in front of 50,000 fans at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and Cristiano Ronaldo is due to be presented next week in a similar glitzy presentation.