Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has revealed that he hopes to have decided where hill be playing next season within the next ten days.
The French international has long been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena, with Real Madrid and Chelsea considered the favourites for his signature. With his contract running out in 2011, if he doesn't sign an extension this summer Bayern are likely to sell their star, rather than risk him walking away for free in 12 months time.
Ribery has not made any firm decision about his future yet, but revealed that he hopes to have made up his mind within the next ten days.
"There is at this time no club who say that I will come or to whom I am going," Ribery told German television station Sport1.
"Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea are still interested in me and they want me to play for them.
"We have still some games to play and little recovery time. Therefore I believe that I will determine in the very near future what I will do next year."
Pushed to announce a clearer timescale regarding his decision, Ribery said: "I hope in the next week or in the next 10 days."
Ribery is in negotiations with his current club over a new deal, despite being quoted recently as saying he and his family hope to move to the sunnier climate of Spain.
"I will have talks with the club leadership and with my agent," he said.
"And as I already said, in a week or 10 days, when the talks have been held, I will know what the situation is."
While keen to extend Ribery's stay with the club, Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed they would not look to offload the player if it was going to harm their chances of excelling in domestic and European competition.
"We will hold talks. Our clear aim is still to extend the contract," Rummenigge said told Bild newspaper.
"But if we do not achieve that, it doesn't automatically mean that we will sell Franck this summer.
"We want to have a team next season who achieve their goals domestically and internationally take another step forward.
"We have the goal in the future not to travel humbly to Barcelona, but rather with a chance of being at the same level. Franck is necessary to do that."
The French international has long been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena, with Real Madrid and Chelsea considered the favourites for his signature. With his contract running out in 2011, if he doesn't sign an extension this summer Bayern are likely to sell their star, rather than risk him walking away for free in 12 months time.
Ribery has not made any firm decision about his future yet, but revealed that he hopes to have made up his mind within the next ten days.
"There is at this time no club who say that I will come or to whom I am going," Ribery told German television station Sport1.
"Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea are still interested in me and they want me to play for them.
"We have still some games to play and little recovery time. Therefore I believe that I will determine in the very near future what I will do next year."
Pushed to announce a clearer timescale regarding his decision, Ribery said: "I hope in the next week or in the next 10 days."
Ribery is in negotiations with his current club over a new deal, despite being quoted recently as saying he and his family hope to move to the sunnier climate of Spain.
"I will have talks with the club leadership and with my agent," he said.
"And as I already said, in a week or 10 days, when the talks have been held, I will know what the situation is."
While keen to extend Ribery's stay with the club, Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed they would not look to offload the player if it was going to harm their chances of excelling in domestic and European competition.
"We will hold talks. Our clear aim is still to extend the contract," Rummenigge said told Bild newspaper.
"But if we do not achieve that, it doesn't automatically mean that we will sell Franck this summer.
"We want to have a team next season who achieve their goals domestically and internationally take another step forward.
"We have the goal in the future not to travel humbly to Barcelona, but rather with a chance of being at the same level. Franck is necessary to do that."
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