French International Franck Ribery has been quoted in France’s largest newspaper that “it’s Real Madrid or nothing”, while Bayern Munich General Manager Uli Hoeness continues to hold his hard line.

Via Guardian 

Ribéry is quoted today in L’Equipe saying: “I have made up my mind, I want to leave. It will be Real or nothing. I will wait to see how things pan out but I would like to hold talks with the Bayern management soon.”

Chelsea had identified Ribéry as a possible headline signing but feared that his compatriot Zinedine Zidane, now a special adviser at Real, would use his influence to bring the 26-year-old to the Bernabéu.

Manchester United have also been linked with Ribéry although their new policy of signing only players under 26 had made Old Trafford a less likely destination.

Ribéry’s compatriot Karim Benzema has already agreed to join the Spanish side from Lyon and become Real’s third major signing of the summer after the arrivals of Kaka from Milan and Cristiano Ronaldo from United.

Bayern officials have repeatedly said Ribéry, who joined them in 2007 from Marseille, is not for sale. Their general manager Uli Hoeness does not believe Ribéry’s desire to leave alters their position. “Does Franck want to go to Real?” he asked. “For us, that changes absolutely anything. Life is not always a fairytale. Real have not made us a specific proposal and we do not need their money.”