Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer says his team should either extend Franck Riberys contract or allow the France midfielder to leave.

Beckenbauer, in comments published Monday in his weekly column for the Bild newspaper, is the first Bayern official to publicly mention the possibility of Riberys departure. Until now, Bayern officials have insisted that Ribery is bound by contract until June 2011 and wont be allowed to go under any circumstances.

I see only two solutions: Ribery extends his contract early and then the subject of a transfer is closed. Or we give him a release, Beckenbauer wrote.

Beckenbauer said he favored the first option because I can hardly imagine that Bayern would be better without Ribery.

Ribery has repeatedly been linked with Real Madrid.

German media has speculated that Bayern could be lured into a deal with Madrid by a large transfer sum and the possibility of signing some of the Spanish sides Dutch players: Wesley Sneijder , Arjen Robben or Rafael van der Vaart.

Bayerns new Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal, reportedly would like to have at least one of them for the next Bundesliga season.

Posted on June 8th, 2009 by admin
Filed under: Soccer news