Bayern Munich will sit down with Franck Ribery to discuss his
future in March, according to the club's director of sport
Christian Nerlinger.
The Frenchman revealed earlier this month he wants his future
to be sorted out before the start of the World Cup in June.
The France international has long been linked with a move to
Real Madrid and, although he is currently tied to the Bundesliga
club until 2011, Bayern president Uli Hoeness has already admitted
he may have to be sold next summer if he does not sign a new
contract, as he would be available for free 12 months later.
Nerlinger said on Bayern's official website: "Franck came to
us once in the summer.
"He said he felt very much at home in Munich and was grateful
to the club, but there was one alternative which he could imagine
himself taking. We declined, and the matter was closed internally.
"Franck has always behaved correctly, and I won't hear a word
said against him in this respect.
"We won't put him under pressure. We'll sit down with him and
talk in early March. We'll set out our position, and he'll explain
his, and we'll see if we can agree. It matters a lot to me that the
process is fair and respectful."
Ribery has missed much of the season with a serious knee
injury, while swollen toes kept him out of Friday's win over
Hoffenheim.
But Nerlinger is confident the playmaker will be fit to face
Werder Bremen on Saturday.
"Franck had a genuinely serious knee injury," he added.
"He's over it now, which is the vital thing. I'm really
relaxed about another couple of days lost to a swollen toe.
"Franck's the one who's suffered most from his injury woe. A
French doctor wanted him to have surgery, but it's well known that
an operation on a patellar tendon is extremely risky.
"We persuaded him not to follow that course of action, and
(Bayern doctor) Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt and his team have put things
right.
"Our coaching staff are bringing him on very cautiously. Once
he's back, it'll be a very interesting second half of the season
with Rib and Rob (Arjen Robben).
"I'm 100% convinced we'll see Franck back on the pitch next
Saturday."
