Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic recently hinted that Franck Ribery could follow Arjen Robben and leave the club at the end of the season.
The big squad overhaul at Bayern Munich has already started ahead of the winter transfer window. The Bavarians are expected to make big investments in the next few transfer windows to revitalize their aging squad. There will likely be numerous departures in the summer. Some veterans are expected to leave on free transfers, while other players will be sold for moderate transfer fees.
Arjen Robben has already confirmed that this will be his last season in Bavaria. Speaking with Sport Bild on Tuesday, Hasan Salihamidzic effectively confirmed the exit of Franck Ribery as well. The Frenchman turns 36 next season, and his contract expires in the summer. Salihamidzic praised Ribery for his top performances this season, still, and backed him to finish out the campaign in a solid manner.
"“The president spoke of it. I think [Ribery leaving at the end of the season] is the way it’s going to be. Franck knows that it’s a year of transition, but I’m happy that he’s playing well at the moment."
Brazzo also backed Ribery to return to the club at some point in the future after his playing career has ended.
"“We can always talk about everything there. He has an era in the club, is a great, deserving player – just like Arjen Robben. “"
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Ribery has remained tight-lipped about his future at the club, but the Frenchman is unlikely to retire from the game.
Bayern’s decision to extend Ribery and Robben’s contracts at the end of last season was considered a negative move for many fans of the club. The Bavarians have not been able to consistently rely on these veterans for the past few season thanks to their injury records.
Bayern has been linked with numerous forwards in the past few months. The Bavarians are mainly looking for young wingers instead of going for established star names.
Florian Thauvin, Nicolas Pepe and Nabil Fekir have been linked frequently with a move Bayern. These players will cost a lot due to their long contracts at their respective clubs and the inflation of the transfer market.
The German club also already has a few good successors for Robben and Ribery in their current squad. Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry have the potential to be Bayern’s first choice wide players for years to come. The addition of Alphonso Davies in January will also provide Niko Kovac a good option in attack. Moreover, the younger players coming from the academy can also slowly become important players for the first team.
Brazzo also defended himself in his interview after he was recently criticized for the job he is doing in Bavaria. The former Bayern Munich player believes that he has already taken massive strides behind the scenes to improve the club’s structure. He also insisted that Bayern is going for a win in Amsterdam tomorrow, despite only needing one point to seal the top spot in their Champions League group.