SOCCER NEWS:FRANCK RIBERY has confirmed he wants to leave Bayern Munich and join Real Madrid. The France playmaker's future has been under the spotlight since the end of the Bundesliga season although Ribery himself has remained silent.
But the 26-year-old has now admitted he would jump at the chance of joining up with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu.
He told L’Equipe: “I have decided that I want to leave. It will be Real Madrid or nothing. I will wait to see how things pan out but I would like to hold talks with the Bayern management soon.”
Madrid are keen on the former Marseille man but have met with stiff resistance from Bayern, who are adamant their star turn will not be leaving for Spain.
And Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness does not believe Ribery’s desire to leave alters their position.
“Does Franck want to go to Real?” he asked. “For us, that changes absolutely nothing. Life is not always a fairytale. Real have not made us a specific proposal and we do not need their money.”
Madrid took their summer spending past the €200 million mark when they signed France international Benzema for a fee which could rise to €41 million dependent on performance clauses.
John Terry is determined to lead Chelsea to glory next season – but admits it will be like starting all over again under Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach officially started his new role this week as permanent incumbent in the Stamford Bridge hot seat after Guus Hiddink’s successful caretaker reign.
Ancelotti has made it clear he intends to freshen up the squad, with the arrival of €21 million-rated full-back Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow expected to be confirmed shortly, Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo reportedly being tracked, while the fee for Daniel Sturridge, the Manchester City forward, will be decided by a tribunal.
Young goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, out of contract at Middlesbrough, was meanwhile confirmed as a free signing last night and has agreed a four-year deal.
Reserve keeper Hilario (33) has also signed a new two-year contract which will run until 2011.
Chelsea do not have long before they embark on a pre-season tour of the US, which will see matches against Ancelotti’s former club AC Milan as well as a Inter, now managed by Jose Mourinho.
While Chelsea will want to hit the ground running, Terry accepts it will be something of a new chapter. “I want to make sure first and foremost that I am in the team,” the England skipper said in an interview with TalkSport Magazine.
“I want to be the captain of Chelsea next year, but the manager is yet to make those decisions.” Terry added: “These are things that go through your mind as a player.
“It does not matter who you are – when a manager comes into the football club he can have different ideas. You have seen in the England team with Michael Owen, when people are out of favour they do not get a look in.”
Sol Campbell is ready to make a decision on his future but looks unlikely to agree a new deal with Portsmouth. The former England centre-half is out of contract at Fratton Park and is now eager to get a contract in place for next season.
The 34-year-old appeared sceptical about the likelihood of extending his stay with Pompey, who he joined in 2006, suggesting there was no deal yet on the table.
“I’m out of contract and will listen to different offers. I want to make the right choice,” Campbell told Sky Sports News.
“There are a few options out there. Portsmouth have to organise themselves and there’s a lot happening there,” added Campbell.
