Soccer:Franck Ribery is to sign a new five-year contract with Bayern Munich when he jets in to attend tomorrow's Champions League final in Madrid, according to reports in Germany this morning.
The Frenchman is currently in training with his national team because he is suspended for tomorrow’s final against Inter Milan, but he has been given permission to attend the game where it is rumoured he will finally give his agreement to a new contract.
Reports in Germany claim that reliable sources close to the player have confirmed that his agents reached an agreement on a new contract until 2015 with a new club-record salary commencing from July 1st which Ribery just needs to sign when he arrives tomorrow.
Sport1 television understands that Ribery will make an announcement from the balcony of Munich town hall on Sunday when the team parades its silverware this season after a procession from the Allianz Arena.
He was close to doing so a fortnight ago when the team showed off its Bundesliga trophy in front of a packed Marienplatz, but he was stopped in his tracks by the club’s chairman Uli Hoeness, who later explained that “the final talks have not yet taken place”.
That appears to have happened yesterday with Ribery’s agents Alain Migliaccio and Jean-Pierre Bernes both spotted in the club’s Madrid hotel.
Ribery’s current contract is due to expire next year, but Bayern have been keen on extending that deal to ward off interest from other clubs this summer.
He has won two league titles and two domestic cups with the club since arriving three years ago and his dream of winning the Champions League could also be realised tomorrow, which is why he now looks set to pledge his future to the Bavarians.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea have all expressed an interest in the 27-year-old, who has made it clear he would like to play for a club who can realistically challenge for Champions League glory each year.
Under Louis van Gaal, Bayern have proven to him that they are now in that category and this may well have tipped the scales in their favour.