Bayern Munich great Franck Ribery joins Fiorentina
Franck Ribery has agreed to a contract with Fiorentina after being released by Bayern Munich this summer.
Bayern Munich decided to reduce the average age of the squad this summer. The club sold Mats Hummels to Borussia Dortmund while numerous veteran players were released. Franck Ribery was one of these veteran players whose contract at Bayern expired this summer.
Arjen Robben decided to retire from the game, but Ribery was eager to continue playing at the top level. The Frenchman was ready to reject lucrative offers from different parts of the globe as he wanted to play for a European club.
Ribery’s wish was finally fulfilled this week as Fiorentina found a breakthrough during the talks with his agent. The former Bayern winger arrived in Florence on Wednesday to undergo medical and complete the final details of the deal. He is set to be unveiled in front of media on Thursday.
The Frenchman was linked with numerous clubs since leaving Bayern. Sheffield United and Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly emerged as the shock destinations for the winger, but the two clubs quickly denied these claims. Moreover, Ribery was unlikely to play for any other German club, while Sheffield United had just gained promotion to the Premier League.
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Ribery was also linked with Al-Nassr. The Saudi Arabian club had reportedly offered a lucrative two-year contract to the French winger. Ribery’s sheer determination to play at the top level for at least two more years decreased the possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia.
Fiorentina will allow Ribery to play in a top-five European league. However, the Frenchman will not have a realistic chance of winning Serie A as Fiorentina are unlikely to challenge Juventus for the title. The Italian club struggled in the league last season as they finished 16th in the table. He will not get the taste of European football, but good playing time looks certain.
Ribery could turn out to be an inspirational signing for the Italian club. If he finds a way to remain fit throughout the season, then Fiorentina will have a decent chance of breaking into top six of the Serie A. The slow and more tactical nature of Serie A might also aid Ribery’s style of play.
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Bayern Munich has seen best of Ribery in the last 12 years. Seeing the Frenchman in a different kit will be odd, but it will be interesting to see how he fares in a new league. One thing is sure that Fiorentina fans will get to see Ribery working relentlessly on the pitch.