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Bayern Munich have revealed they would have sold star man Franck Ribery if Europe's big guns would have matched the Germans' 100m euro asking price.
Bayern Munich have revealed they would have sold star man Frank Ribery if Europe's big guns would have matched the Germans' 100m euro asking price.
Chelsea and Manchester United have all been in pursuit of the France midfielder in the summer, but the Bavarian giants had always maintained they were not prepared to sell their prized asset.
Real Madrid was the player's expected destination after Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were all snapped up in the summer, but Bayern's unwillingness to reveal their price has ultimately meant the La Liga side have missed out.
Bayern chief Uli Hoeness told Sport Bild: "Internally we said yes, from 100m euros we'll deal. Also that was a defensive measure. We did not think anyone would pay that. We wanted to keep Franck.
"One week before the expiry of our internal deadline we said that to him personally. Therefore he knew that interested clubs still had a week to offer the 100m euros."
"Someone said to me there would be an offer of 100m euros coming - but not from Real," he added. "I had a very bad day. I felt an emptiness in myself, because I had the feeling - now Franck is gone.
"In the evening it emerged that it was a misunderstanding. They wanted to include three players in the sum. When I had heard that I was really happy."
Despite the determination to keep hold of Ribery this summer, Hoeness claims the club would be happy to let him leave for nothing when his contract expires in 2011 - on one condition.
"If we could win the Champions League twice before then, then I would have no problem letting Ribery leave for free," he added.
Written by Philtom
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