Ribery to sign extension in coming days; Robben hedges

According to exclusive information obtained by Munich’s own Tageszeitung, Franck Ribery’s agent has informed the club that the 35-year-old Bayern Munich legend will sign the contract extension offered to him in mid-April, keeping him at home in Munich until June 30, 2019. Fans can expect official news of the signing to appear possibly as soon as this week.

Ribery made it absolutely clear earlier this season that his heart was in Munich and he wanted to stay. He even seemed frustrated that the club left him dangling for so long—until a private chat with Uli Hoeneß himself at the Munich airport ahead of Bayern's clash with Besiktas in Istanbul sent him dancing his way to the gate: had he just been guaranteed an extension?

That is what duly occurred a few weeks later, when the club presented both Ribery and his battery mate Arjen Robben with contract extensions. After Ribery’s age-defying Champions League heroics, it is hard to argue against keeping him on in a reduced role another year—and possibly until retirement.

While Ribery is set to sign, Robben has yet to make a move. He had likewise hoped that Bayern would make him an offer sooner rather than later. Whether Robben is still weighing Bayern’s offer or has received a more attractive offer from elsewhere is unknown.

Despite an inconsistent season for Bayern, Robben remained a de facto starter as the only natural right-winger available to the team. An early injury in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid ruled him out of the decisive match, and his status for the remainder of the season is uncertain.