“Manchester United are reported to have tabled a £62.5m bid to Bayern Munich to secure the services of French midfielder Franck Ribery as a contingency should Cristiano Ronaldo leave for Real Madrid this summer”
“The Guardian report that United made the offer some weeks ago after club scouts repeatedly watched the 26-year-old in action.
The offer, which would smash the current world record transfer of £44m set in 2001 when Real Madrid signed Zinedine Zidane from Juventus, would only come into effect if Ronaldo leaves for the Bernabeu.
While the paper contends that the Portuguese star is almost certain to leave, earlier this week the World Player of the Year said: “I’m no longer thinking of Madrid. That dream is dead,” but despite the 24-year-old’s comments speculation over his future and links with Madrid are inevitable given his standing in the game.
Although Bayern are understood to have turned down United’s offer it could regarded as an opening gambit in negotiations for an increasingly unsettled player who has no shortage of suitors, with Barcelona and Manchester City already linked with summer bids.
Ribery has grown increasingly discontented at the Bundesliga club this season and last week said that he might have to leave unless the club can secure Champions League football next season.”
Image via Bundesliga
