Associated Press
8/11/2006 8:38:49 AM
MARSEILLE, France (AP) - Franck Ribery has changed his mind and wants to stay with Marseille.
Ribery played for Marseille in a UEFA Cup qualifying match at Young Boys Berne on Thursday and told the club's television station afterward that he is "a Marseille player and happy to be so."
"It's true that I said I wanted to leave," Ribery said. "But I have not forgotten that Marseille is my club, and I love this jersey."
Arsenal and Lyon had hoped to sign Ribery, offering him much higher wages and the prospect of playing in the Champions League.
Ribery had already told Le Parisien newspaper that he wanted to join Lyon before promising fans he would remain a Marseille player for the next four seasons. Last Friday, he then told a French television that he wanted to leave Marseille to play in the Champions League.
Marseille president Pape Diouf criticized Ribery's agent, Bruno Heiderscheid, and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas - whom he called "the biggest liar in football" and "bereft of morality".
Heiderscheid, quoted on the website of sports daily L'Equipe, seemed to have accepted there will be no big signing-on fee for selling Ribery to another club.
"Franck will stay at Marseille," he said. "It's the solution that I've always preferred."
Ribery, who just three years ago was digging roads and earning the French minimum wage as he sought a professional contract, came onto the field at Berne in the 68th minute Thursday. This appearance made him ineligible to play in European competition for another club until February.
Since making his Boulogne debut in 2001, Ribery has played for a different club every season - moving onto Ales, Brest, Metz, and Galatasaray.
Staying with Marseille would be the first time Ribery has stayed with the same club for two seasons.
However, his decision to stay comes with a clear warning that he could leave at the end of the season
"I hope we have a good season," Ribery said. "The most important thing is to finish in the top three to play in the Champions League."
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lol @ Pape Diouf's comment. He has always been the outspoken type.
8/11/2006 8:38:49 AM
MARSEILLE, France (AP) - Franck Ribery has changed his mind and wants to stay with Marseille.
Ribery played for Marseille in a UEFA Cup qualifying match at Young Boys Berne on Thursday and told the club's television station afterward that he is "a Marseille player and happy to be so."
"It's true that I said I wanted to leave," Ribery said. "But I have not forgotten that Marseille is my club, and I love this jersey."
Arsenal and Lyon had hoped to sign Ribery, offering him much higher wages and the prospect of playing in the Champions League.
Ribery had already told Le Parisien newspaper that he wanted to join Lyon before promising fans he would remain a Marseille player for the next four seasons. Last Friday, he then told a French television that he wanted to leave Marseille to play in the Champions League.
Marseille president Pape Diouf criticized Ribery's agent, Bruno Heiderscheid, and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas - whom he called "the biggest liar in football" and "bereft of morality".
Heiderscheid, quoted on the website of sports daily L'Equipe, seemed to have accepted there will be no big signing-on fee for selling Ribery to another club.
"Franck will stay at Marseille," he said. "It's the solution that I've always preferred."
Ribery, who just three years ago was digging roads and earning the French minimum wage as he sought a professional contract, came onto the field at Berne in the 68th minute Thursday. This appearance made him ineligible to play in European competition for another club until February.
Since making his Boulogne debut in 2001, Ribery has played for a different club every season - moving onto Ales, Brest, Metz, and Galatasaray.
Staying with Marseille would be the first time Ribery has stayed with the same club for two seasons.
However, his decision to stay comes with a clear warning that he could leave at the end of the season
"I hope we have a good season," Ribery said. "The most important thing is to finish in the top three to play in the Champions League."
----
lol @ Pape Diouf's comment. He has always been the outspoken type.
