Ribery is using Bayern for career, says Beckenbauer

European giants Bayern Munich’s club president Franz Beckenbauer has launched a vicious attack on the club’s French player Franck Ribery, claiming that he is just using the club to further his own career.

A World Cup medal winner as a player and manager, Beckenbauer has questioned the Frenchman’s loyalty to Bayern after he was strongly linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena this summer.

Spanish giants Real Madrid pursued the 26-year-old, who has made it clear that he would have preferred to leave this summer.

“Ribery only came here to make a name for himself,” Beckenbauer was quoted by the Bild newspaper as saying at a benefit evening on Saturday night.

“He doesn’t give a damn about Munich.”

While, Bayern have resisted the temptation to sell Ribery to Madrid, they could lose him for a reduced fee next summer due to FIFA article 17 which allows a player under the age of 28 to walk away from a club after three years of his contract.

Ribery signed a four-year contract when he arrived in Munich from Marseille two years ago and Beckenbauer believes the midfielder was aware of this rule when he signed that deal.

“Why would I sign a four-year contract if I only want to stay for three?” he said.

However, Ribery is a doubt for the start of the new Bundesliga season due to a knee injury which has kept him out of training for the last week.