Soccer:Franck Ribery has signed a new five-year contract with Bayern Munich. The France international has ended speculation about his future at the Allianz Arena by penning a new deal which commits him to the Bundesliga champions until 2015.
"We are very pleased that one of the best players in the world has agreed to a contract extension. This is also a sign of the great objectives of FC Bayern in the coming years," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The news will come as a boost to fans of the Bavarian side who saw their team suffer a 2-0 defeat against Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League last night.
Ribery missed the game at the Bernabeu after his sending-off in the semi-final first leg against Lyon, while the loss denied Louis van Gaal's side a famous treble of European Cup, Bundesliga and German Cup.
The 27-year-old put pen to paper on the new deal prior to last night's defeat.
Ribery's former deal was due to expire next year and the Bayern board was eager to tie him down to a longer contract in an effort to ward off clubs interested in signing him this summer at a knockdown price.
That has now been achieved thanks to what is reportedly the most lucrative contract ever tabled by the club, and Ribery revealed he is delighted to continue the association.
"I am very happy to have decided to stay with FC Bayern," said Ribery, who joined the club from Marseille in a €25million deal in 2007.
"My family and I are very happy to be staying in Munich. This club has become a big family for me."
Ribery was reportedly close to leaving Bavaria 12 months ago at the end of a disappointing season in which the club only managed to qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the campaign.
An injury in pre-season training and a struggle to break into Van Gaal's first team increased speculation linking him with a move, but he returned early this year to play an key role in Bayern's double-winning triumph.
Although he was suspended by Uefa for three matches for his dismissal in the Champions League semi-final, the fact Bayern reached the final ultimately convinced him to extend his contract.
"He decided with his heart," said Zinedine Zidane, a close friend of Ribery and the man who, as an advisor to Real Madrid, had been trying to sign him for the Spaniards.