Franck Ribery has alerted England's top clubs by claiming
he would be interested in a move to Manchester United, Arsenal or
Chelsea should he decide to leave Marseille in the summer. The
French international has been given permission to leave Stade
Velodrome if a suitable offer materialises, but his long-term
future could yet be preserved if Marseille manage to secure a place
in the UEFA Champions League in the last three games of the
season.
Should l'OM fail to do so, then there is likely to be a long list
of candidates for Ribery's signature as he has become one of the
continent's hottest properties over the past 12 months. Whilst
seemingly ruling out a move to either Lyon or Bayern Munich, Ribery
has explained he could be swayed by an offer to join one of
Europe's biggest sides.
"It is true last summer OL were very interested in me, but now I am
only attracted by abroad. If I would leave, it would only be for a
foreign club," Ribery told France Football. "I know I am not very
excited by a country like Germany. I prefer English and Spanish
leagues.
"The clubs that make me dream? Manchester, Barcelona, Real Madrid,
Arsenal, Chelsea and Milan. "Money won't make me choose because
there is money in any of those clubs. I just want to play, I don't
want to change my club just to stay on the bench."
Marseille are currently just one point shy of second-placed Lens
following Sunday's 2-1 win over Monaco, a game in which Ribery
claimed his fifth goal of the Ligue 1 campaign. With a Champions
League place a distinct possibility, Ribery has not ruled out
extending his stay at Stade Velodrome.
"The day I leave Marseille, I would like to leave with my head held
high, serene," Ribery added. "My priority is to play Champions
League football next season and why not with Marseille? I will do
my best for l'OM to reach it. "Then we will see what happens by the
end of the season."
