Three-horse race for Ribery
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Franck Ribery's agent says that Lyon, Arsenal and Real Madrid are now engaged in a three-horse race for the highly-rated Marseille winger.
The French international has angered l'OM by making clear his desire to quit the Ligue 1 side this summer and now has a trio of suitors battling for his signature following his impressive performances during the World Cup finals.
Champions Lyon have made no secret of the high regard in which they hold the 23-year-old and have been portrayed as favourites to land Ribery, but Marseille would be loath to lose their star name to a French rival.
Reports in the English media on Tuesday morning also suggested that Arsene Wenger was closing in on Ribery's signing for a possible fee of £13.5 million, but the Gunners boss has moved to play down speculation that the former Galatasaray man could be arriving at The Emirates Stadium.
With the star involved in an incident at the club's training ground on Monday when l'OM fans attacked his car in a violent confrontation, his representative says his career at Stade Velodrome is definitely over.
Bruno Heiderscheid now claims that Spanish giants Real Madrid are the challengers to Ribery's more established suitors as his client seeks an exit from the Southern side.
"It could be Lyon, Arsenal or Real Madrid, Franck would go on progressing," Heiderscheid told l'Est-Republicain.
"Franck feels bad. The fans insult him, yesterday he was about to cry.
"I know that he still loves l'OM.
"Everything is very complicated, to my mind Franck's departure is inevitable."
However, l'OM are not ready to lose their prime talent without a fight, and coach Albert Emon stated on Monday that the French international will be in the squad to play in the Uefa Cup preliminary round against Swiss outfit Young Boys.
If he appears in the tie then Ribery will be cup-tied for any potential employers this season, making him a less attractive prospect, but Marseille chairman Pape Diouf says he has not considered such implications to any great extent.
"I have not thought about all that after I knew the sporting decision," said the Marseille supremo.
Some reports continue to link Ribery with a move to Tottenham, but with Heiderscheid's revelation it appears that a trio of Europe's biggest sides will be competing for his signature before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
The French international has angered l'OM by making clear his desire to quit the Ligue 1 side this summer and now has a trio of suitors battling for his signature following his impressive performances during the World Cup finals.
Champions Lyon have made no secret of the high regard in which they hold the 23-year-old and have been portrayed as favourites to land Ribery, but Marseille would be loath to lose their star name to a French rival.
Reports in the English media on Tuesday morning also suggested that Arsene Wenger was closing in on Ribery's signing for a possible fee of £13.5 million, but the Gunners boss has moved to play down speculation that the former Galatasaray man could be arriving at The Emirates Stadium.
With the star involved in an incident at the club's training ground on Monday when l'OM fans attacked his car in a violent confrontation, his representative says his career at Stade Velodrome is definitely over.
Bruno Heiderscheid now claims that Spanish giants Real Madrid are the challengers to Ribery's more established suitors as his client seeks an exit from the Southern side.
"It could be Lyon, Arsenal or Real Madrid, Franck would go on progressing," Heiderscheid told l'Est-Republicain.
"Franck feels bad. The fans insult him, yesterday he was about to cry.
"I know that he still loves l'OM.
"Everything is very complicated, to my mind Franck's departure is inevitable."
However, l'OM are not ready to lose their prime talent without a fight, and coach Albert Emon stated on Monday that the French international will be in the squad to play in the Uefa Cup preliminary round against Swiss outfit Young Boys.
If he appears in the tie then Ribery will be cup-tied for any potential employers this season, making him a less attractive prospect, but Marseille chairman Pape Diouf says he has not considered such implications to any great extent.
"I have not thought about all that after I knew the sporting decision," said the Marseille supremo.
Some reports continue to link Ribery with a move to Tottenham, but with Heiderscheid's revelation it appears that a trio of Europe's biggest sides will be competing for his signature before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
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