Ribery reveals desire to stay at Bayern
MUNICH - Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery has hinted that he could stay on at the German champions despite wide speculation linking the Frenchman with a move at the end of the season.
Despite being under contract until 2011, Ribery is said to be wanted by several of Europe's leading clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona, who eliminated Bayern from the Champions League quarter-finals this week.
"I still have a lot to do with Bayern Munich," Ribery told Munich's tz newspaper. "I want to improve. With Bayern we have a lot to do."
Comments made by Bayern captain Mark van Bommel appeared in the Spanish media earlier this week, with the Dutchman saying that Ribery and Barcelona would be a perfect fit. However, he later said he was misquoted.
Asked whether he would like to play for the Spanish club some day, Ribery said: "Of course, which player would not like to play for Barca."
The Frenchman joined Bayern in 2007 and led them to a German championship and Cup double but the current season has been disappointing with Bayern now only competing for the Bundesliga title.
Bayern are in second place, three points off the top with seven matches remaining, and Ribery said the team needed more players to improve consistency.
"(Bayern) need a bigger squad," Ribery said. "If we have two or three players injured we immediately have a problem. As long as it stays as it is, then we will have a hard time competing with the best."
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