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Bayern Munich try to hold Ribery as Real Madrid salivate

Real Madrid are ready to shell out another €55 million ($76 million) for French star Franck Ribery, although his club Bayern Munich have again insisted the playmaker is not for sale.

Bayern Munich try to hold Ribery as Real Madrid salivate
Photo: DPA

Having added Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka to their ranks this summer, Real president Florentino Perez is reportedly set to spend again according to Spanish sports daily AS, who gave no source for its information.

After meeting club advisors Zinedine Zidane and Jorge Valdano, Perez is ready to “battle” for Ribery’s signature, AS claimed, as Real bid to add another top name following the €93 million capture of Ronaldo from Manchester United and Kaka from AC Milan for €65 million.

Valdano says Bayern are chasing “an astronomic sum” for midfield star Ribery and Munich president Franz Beckenbauer was quoted in German magazine Sport Bild as saying a transfer could be envisaged “if he really wants to leave.”

“We all agree – if he really wants to leave we will deal with that problem,” added Beckenbauer.

Sport Bild headlined with the words “The Frenchman can go,” but on Wednesday the German giants issued a statement again rejecting the article and again insisting Ribery is not for sale.

“There was and never has been a resolution by Bayern Munich’s supervisory board about the sale of Franck Ribery,” said the statement. “There is only a unanimous resolution from Bayern’s executive committee that the player Franck Ribery is not for sale.”

After the signings of Ronaldo and Kaka, a return to the hedonistic days of the “Galacticos” – when Perez was also in charge – is now a possibility as the Spaniards look to buy up the world’s top stars.

Under Perez’s first presidency, which lasted between 2001 and 2006, Real recruited the likes of David Beckham, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and Zidane. And according to Valdano, Real, who were overshadowed last year by Liga and Champions League winners Barcelona, “need another four or five players” if they are to overhaul their rivals and think of capturing a tenth European crown.

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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