Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery interested in Qatar move
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is reportedly favoring a move to Qatar over other interested leagues next season.
The Bundesliga is entering in its final stage, with Bayern Munich holding the fate of the title in their own hands. Die Roten are also in the semifinals of the DFB Pokal. Winning the domestic double would be a fitting end for the Bayern careers of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.
Unlike his Dutch teammate, the Frenchman is yet to confirm his departure at the end of the season, but the club officials have hinted his exit on several occasions.
Ribery is unlikely to hang up his boots as he still has both the ability and fitness to play for a couple more years. The former Marseille winger has been linked with various clubs in the past few months. According to a report from Kicker (via Sport Bild), Ribery prefers a move to Qatar over other countries. He has been lately linked with a move to Australia, but this report suggests he is not interested in moving down under.
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Sport Bild also insist that there has been genuine interest in Ribery from some clubs in Qatar. They suggest that Al-Sadd is the club most likely to sign Ribery, as Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has previously urged the Frenchman to link up with him at the club. Ribery’s contract in Munich expires in June, so it is likely his future will become clear within the next month or so.
It has been a season of ups and downs for Ribery in terms of his individual performances, much like the rest of the team. The Frenchman has struggled with numerous injuries in the past few seasons but has been fit for most of the games this campaign. However, Niko Kovac has understandably used him as a rotation option, allowing Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry to nail down their places in the starting lineup with consistent performances.
The 36-year-old has played a pivotal role in Bayern’s success during his 12 years at the club, but the time has come now to part ways. A move to Qatar would be ideal for Ribery for various reasons. He has struggled physically in the last few seasons so a move to a league with less intensity is ideal for him. Moreover, this move would be financially favorable compared to joining any other European team.
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Bayern Munich already have replacements for Ribery in the form of Coman and Gnabry. Die Roten will be looking for a right winger in the upcoming summer transfer window, and Lille’s Nicolas Pepe has emerged as the top contender for this position, though a few other names have also been linked with a move.