Bayern slap record price tag on Ribery

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has revealed his club value Franck Ribery in the same price bracket as Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo left Manchester United to join Real Madrid for a fee of £80m earlier this summer, and Bayern will not let France winger Ribery depart unless they receive a similar offer.

Spanish giants Real are among the clubs who have shown an interest in Ribery, while English clubs have also been linked with Bayern’s key man.

Hoeness said: “If Cristiano Ronaldo is worth €94m (£80m), then Ribery is worth just as much money, because Ribery, Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi and perhaps Kaka are currently the best players in Europe.”

According to Munich’s Abendzeitung newspaper, Bayern are seeking €100m (£85m) for 26-year-old Ribery, whose contract with Bayern expires in 2011.