Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery will miss Friday
night's first pre-season friendly against Salzburg with a knee
injury.
The 26-year-old France international, heavily linked with a move
away from Bavaria this summer, sat out training on Thursday and is
not expected to resume until early next week.
Team-mate Philipp Lahm told L'Equipe: "I cannot say yet
whether he will be with us this season.
"But, as long as he is, he must integrate into the squad because
the team is the most important thing. He has given his all in
recent days and left a good impression."
The match, Bayern's first under new coach Louis van Gaal, could
see Germany striker Mario Gomez make his first appearance in the
club's colours on his 24th birthday.
soccernet.
Not for the first time this summer, Franck Ribery had to
leave Bayern Munich’s training ahead of schedule because of
injury.
The Frenchman has already had to miss two previous
sessions last week, the first of which stirred up a massive storm
when he was accused of faking an injury to skip training with the
squad to protest Bayern’s refusal to let him join Real
Madrid.
In yesterday’s programme, Ribery left the pitch just 60
minutes into the session due to a recurring problem in his left
knee. However, there was no suspicion of malice this time as his
team-mates and his club believe that the injury has now gotten
quite serious, while neither the German nor Spanish press have
speculated on any rebellious behaviour.
“Everything that he does is under close scrutiny now, be
he would not have exaggerated anything,” Hamit Altintop was quoted
as saying by AS.
Bayern’s official club website, meanwhile, explained: “His
injury has worsened. He will receive treatment until his recovery
is complete, but there is no date set when he will return to the
team for training.”
Ribery also missed the Bavarian outfit’s friendly against
Salzburg last Friday.
goal.com
