Van Gaal: Ribery can still leave Bayern

(GSM) – Bayern München boss Louis van Gaal has admitted that he has no idea whether star winger Franck Ribery will remain with the Bavarian giants.

The France international future is yet to be sorted out with speculation suggesting he is set to be on his way out of Allianz Arena in the summer, with a host of clubs waiting to secure his services.

Bayern have admitted that they will sell if Ribery fails to sign a new deal by the end of the season, while the player has refused to reveal his long-term plans.

The 26-year-old playmaker has recently returned to Van Gaal’s first-team fold after an injury-hit season, but the Dutch coach accepts that he may not be able to call on the Frenchman for long.

“If I look at him doing everything to be fit for the game against Fiorentina, then I think he will stay,” Van Gaal told Sat.1.

“If I then read the newspapers I think he won’t stay. It is difficult. If he wants to go we should sell him now, because it brings in money and is good for Bayern.”

Ribery is keen to see his personal ambitions matched by Bayern before he commits to any deal, and admits he is pleased with the progress being made this term.

A place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals was secured on Tuesday, after the away goals rule saw them past Fiorentina following a 4-4 aggregate draw, and that level of success may yet persuade him to remain in Germany.

“It was very important for us to go through,” he said.

“We knew that it was not going to be an easy game and the weather didn’t help us either, particularly in the first half when it was very tough.

“We showed a great team performance with a lot of solidarity.

“As a team, together we can achieve a lot.”