An official agreement has been reached between OM and Bayern Munich for the transfer of Franck Ribéry. The now former-Marseille midfielder is being presented to the German media alongside Luca Toni, the club’s other signing. Check out Pape Diouf’s first reaction, for readers of OM.net…
OM.net told you as early as Monday that OM was in negotiations with the Munich club. An official agreement was reached between OM and Bayern Munich on Thursday afternoon. The player is free to undertake the medical examination, obligatory before signing a four-year deal.
Having joined Marseille in June 2005, Franck Ribéry, 24, played 35 games for OM in his first season and 25 in 2006-07, scoring 11 goals.
Pape Diouf
How has the club reacted to the official agreement?
Quite openly, as a club prepared to honour its word. The same way we refused to let him go last summer, we agreed to enter into transfer negotiations if three criteria were met.
Firstly, it would be in the club’s interest. Secondly, it would be in the player’s interest and thirdly, there would be a financial agreement between ourselves and the other club.
All three criteria were fulfilled so we agreed to transfer the player. Having said that, Franck is a player that we have helped lift the profile of considerably and it is with a heavy heart that we now let him go today.
What does his departure mean for OM?
When a player of Franck’s stature leaves a club, he leaves a hole, in sporting terms. But don’t forget that Franck didn’t have the greatest season this year, due to injuries, loss of form… All of which hasn’t prevented us reaching our objectives.
And as well as that, you have to admit that OM has also performed a very profitable financial operation, and demonstrated its ability to adapt to a transfer market which isn’t always easy to negotiate.
So now, OM should have a considerable financial credit with which to reinforce the squad…
Don’t think we are obsessed by this financial aspect. We will continue in the same vein as the previous seasons, that is to say, continue to build the club on solid foundations. We not getting ahead of ourselves. We will look to do what we can, reasonably speaking, to replace Franck. Our aim is to have a balanced squad. For the last two seasons, our aim has been to install OM in the upper echelons of French football, qualifying two of three seasons for the Champions League.
We not going to jump into any adventures or transfers that will demand too much of the club. We will not by any player at inflated prices.
According to the rumours, the name of Ludovic Giuly has been circulating…
We are following several options, including Ludovic Giuly. But it is still too early to say definitively. The transfer market is only barely open…
There is also the important case od Djibril Cissé to address…
We have arranged to meet with the directors of Liverpool in the coming days. And we will use all our usual force and energy to try and find the best solution.
