Ribery is staying – Rummenigge

(GSM) – Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes star Franck Ribery will be staying at the club. Rummenigge is confident the France winger will agree to extend his contract with the newly-crowned German champions.

Ribery has only a year left on his current deal at the Allianz Arena. If he does not extend his current contract, the club may look to sell him this summer in order to avoid letting him go for free in the summer.

Negotiations will take place between the club and the player in the coming days, and Rummenigge is optimistic an agreement will be reached.

“I would stick my neck out and say that Ribery will not only be playing for Bayern Munich next year, but also beyond,” Rummenigge told Sport1 television. “I am quite optimistic. We have good chances as we head into negotiations.”

The 27-year-old, who joined the club from newly-crowned French champions Marseille for 25 million euros in 2007, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.