Bayern look to set limits after Ribery rebellion

AFP - 4 July 2009 16:10

German giants Bayern Munich are considering putting a fine system in place in the wake of midfielder Franck Ribery´s rebellious insistance last week that he will leave to join Real Madrid.

BERLIN (AFP) - German giants Bayern Munich are considering putting a fine system in place in the wake of midfielder Franck Ribery's rebellious insistance last week that he will leave to join Real Madrid.

On Wednesday, Ribery, 26, told French sports newspaper L'Equipe: "I have decided: I want to leave. It will be Real or nothing at all" which has annoyed Bayern's bosses who have repeatedly insisted he is going nowhere.

The French midfield maestro sat out training last week with blisters as new Dutch coach Louis van Gaal took charge on Wednesday with the new Bundesliga season set to begin on August 7.

Now Bayern's new director of sport Christian Nerlinger wants to bring in a fine system so that a similar situation of transfer poker is not played out in the media again.

"The players need to know the borders, so they don't exceed them again," said Nerlinger.

The tougher stance is the brainchild of van Gaal, a notoriously tough disciplinarian, added Nerlinger.

"We unconditionally support him in this," he said.

And Nerlinger says he does not expect any more public comment from Ribery on the transfer issue.

"We have told Franck clearly that we are building a team around him and a sale is not an issue for debate," said Nerlinger.

"The topic will soon take care of itself.

"Franck will stay with Bayern Munich."

And Nerlinger insists Ribery's lack of training ground time last week has nothing to do with his attitude and everything to do with injury.

"Franck has problems with his Achilles' tendon, that is not an invention."

Meanwhile in Spain, Real Madrid's negotiator Pedro Jimenez says he is ready to present Bayern with an offer for Bayern Munich which they will "not be able to ignore."