Munich  - Franck Ribery is making progress in his recovery from a recurring knee injury and may return to action before the Bundesliga winter break, his Bayern Munich team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt said.

France star Ribery last played in early October and has been sidelined since. Munich said last week that he won't require an operation as conservative methods are being applied.

Munich  - Franck Ribery says he is ready to take on a playmaker role in central midfield under new coach Louis van Gaal at Bayern Munich.

Ribery told Sports Bild newspaper on Wednesday he was ready to give the position a try although he preferred playing in a more left-wing position.

Van Gaal sees Ribery in a central role behind the strikers as he tries to introduce tactical changes in his first season at the club.

Munich - French midfield star Franck Ribery resumed training at Bayern Munich on Wednesday after a four-week injury absence and appears fit again to play for club and country.

Ribery, 26, was sidelined with a knee inflammation as he missed most of Munich's pre-season training.

He now aims to play in Munich's Bundesliga season-opener on Saturday at TSG Hoffenheim and for France next Wednesday in a World Cup qualifiers at the Faroes.

"I hope he stays fit now and makes us better," said Munich captain Mark van Bommel. (dpa)

Munich  - Bayern Munich were looking for at least 100 million euros (140 million dollars) from Real Madrid for midfield star Franck Ribery, club general manager Uli Hoeness revealed Thursday.

Hoeness told Munich's Abendzeitung newspaper that the German giants had demanded a "million sum in three figures" which resulted in Real ending their interest in the French international.

According to L'Equipe, Real were prepared to pay up to 80 million euros for Ribery, who came to Munich in 2007 and has a contract until 2011. He has been quoted as saying that he would leave Bayern, but only for Real.(dpa)

London, June 22 : Manchester United should use as much of the 80 million pounds they received for ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo to replace him with French star Franck Ribery.

Former France and Chelsea icon Marcel Desailly, at same time insisted that Ribery was not the right man to go to Stamford Bridge.

Bayern Munich could be tempted to sell Ribery if the price is right and Desailly says that United should use as much of the 80 million pound they received for Ronaldo, as they need to prise him away from Germany.

Munich - Bayern Munich insisted Wednesday that French star Franck Ribery, reportedly sought by several of Europe's leading clubs, was not for sale.

Bayern denied a Sports Bild report that the supervisory board had agreed to consider selling the 26-year-old midfielder should the right offer come along.

A statement said there was no truth in the report which appeared Wednesday.

"There is a unanimous decision from the board of directors of FC Bayern Munich AG that the player Franck Ribery is not for sale," the statement said.

London, June 17 : Spanish football giant Real Madrid has floated a mighty bid of 70 million pounds for sign Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.

Ribery is the primary target of several EPL teams like Manchester United and Chelsea, even Barcelona had articulated desire to bag the French footballer.

Munich  - Franck Ribery should renew his contract at Bayern Munich or leave, likely for Real Madrid, Munich president Franz Beckenbauer said in Monday's edition of the Bild daily.

"I see only two solutions: Ribery renews his contract prematurely so that we can close the issue. or we release him," Beckenbauer said.

New Real president Florentino Perez is after the winger, who himself, on French TV, has only ruled out a move to England where Chelsea and Manchester United were said to be interested.

Munich  - Bayern Munich face a hard fight in keeping France midfielder Franck Ribery who could become the focus of increasing attention from other European clubs, general manager Uli Hoeness said in a newspaper interview Friday.

Bayern have repeatedly insisted they have no interest in selling the 25-year-old international who is reportedly wanted by Barcelona and big-spending Manchester City.

Hoeness told Bild newspaper Ribery had two years to go on his contract and he and his family were happy in Munich.

Munich - Franck Ribery has no intention of leaving Bayern Munich in the near future, but will not commit himself to the German Bundesliga champions on a long-term basis.

Confronted with big interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid and other clubs, The French star Ribery told Wednesday's edition of the Sport Bild weekly that "no one must be afraid that Ribery will leave the Bundesliga."

Ribery, 25, has contract in Munich until 2011 which Munich would like to renew as early as possible. But Ribery said "that depends on the talks between my adviser and the club."

Dubai - France midfielder Franck Ribery took the wheel of the Bayern Munich team bus and knocked over two signs outside the players' hotel in Dubai - but the incident hasn't dented his standing with the German champions.

"Franck wanted to have a bit of fun," said coach Juergen Klinsmann, relieved that the prank only caused minor damage.

General manager Uli Hoeness was meanwhile left to smooth over the incident with an angry hotel management, while team-mate Tim Borowski admitted the players were slightly shaken by the unscheduled spin around the hotel on Thursday.