Bayern bosses give Ribery pen as birthday gift

Bayern Munich bosses have given their French international Franck Ribery a pen for his 27th birthday which they hope he will use to sign a new contract.

After Bayern reached the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Manchester United on Wednesday night club bosses used the traditional after match banquet to celebrate Ribery’s birthday.

“It’s a pen,” chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the player before he could even open his present.

Rummenigge added: “We hope he’s going to use it to sign his new contract.”

The midfielder’s contract runs until June 2011 and Bayern are keen to extend this season or risk losing him on a free transfer in 18 months.

Ribery is also targeted by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.