Real president Perez targets Ribery
PARIS - Real Madrid want to sign Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich during the close season, according to Real president Florentino Perez.
"It would be a huge satisfaction to have Ribery with us as soon as next season," Perez told French daily L'Equipe in an interview published on Friday.
"But we first have to talk to his club Bayern Munich. I will get in touch with my friends Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness to ask them what they want to do with Ribery.
"I'll tell them this player is one of our targets and that I want to discuss his possible move to Real."
Rummenigge is Bayern chairman while Hoeness is club manager of the German giants.
Perez also said he was "very optimistic" about signing Brazilian Kaka from AC Milan after he held talks with the Serie A side and the player's father this week.
"If Kaka leaves Milan, he will join Real Madrid," Perez said.
The Real chairman said he tried to convince Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to join the nine-times European champions before naming Manuel Pellegrini as Real's new coach.
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"We have always liked the Frenchman and we talked a lot with him," Perez said. "But he feels very responsible for what is going on and of what is going to happen next at Arsenal. He did not want to leave this club which he has given a lot to."
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