Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has revealed
his club received a bid of 65 million euros plus Jose Bosingwa from Chelsea for Franck
Ribery in the summer.
However, it still fell short of the Bavarian club's 100-million
euro valuation of the 26-year-old, which is why they turned the
Blues down.
"We never received an offer over 100 million," he said. "The
best bid came from Chelsea: 65 million plus the player Bosingwa. We
also received other offers of 76 and 80 million."
However, Hoeness denies ever being truly tempted into selling
Ribery, who he claims had not demanded a move either.
"He never came to us and said he wanted to leave at any price,"
revealed Hoeness. "He always said to us that he would like to move
to Real Madrid, but that if we wanted to keep him, then it was not
a problem. (Selling him) was never a real consideration.
"However, we want to create the conditions which give Franck the
feeling that he can achieve something here in Munich. If he cannot
see this potential, then he will leave."
Bayern are currently struggling to provide the France
international with these conditions and they could be dumped out of
the Champions League on Tuesday night should Juventus defeat
Bordeaux, regardless of how Bayern fare against Maccabi Haifa.
This would inevitably make Ribery's name one of the most
frequently mentioned when the transfer market reopens in January,
even though Hoeness reserves himself the final say on the
issue.
"If FC Bayern says no, then Franck stays," he said.