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Franck Ribery has been a Bayern player for over 12 years now, helping the club to multiple Bundesliga titles and other silverware along the way. Although sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic strongly suggested that the current season would be Ribery’s last at Bayern Munich, King Franck himself still has not decided his future come the end of the season.
In a recent interview with L’Equipe, as transcribed by Bild, Ribery said he plans on sitting down with the club’s front office in a couple of weeks to discuss his plans:
We’ll see how the next few weeks go. I’ll sit down in the coming weeks with the bosses and my agent Alain [Migliaccio]. I’ll continue with Bayern, if I can still give them everything. I’ve spent a third of my life in Munich and two thirds of my professional life. Bayern took me as I am. I’ll never cheat the club. There’s a true love story between us.
As is well known, that love cuts both ways at Bayern Munich. Although it still seems highly unlikely that Ribery would be extended yet another year, his comments make you wonder.
Ribery also addressed the extensive criticism he received after he posted a video of himself having a golden-leaf steak presented to him by the internet sensation known as “Salt Bae.” The media had a field day with the brief clip, knocking the fact that the golden steak cost an estimated €1200. Ribery responded in a profanity-laced Instagram post and was subsequently fined by Bayern Munich.
No better way to start the year than with a dash of salt and a visit to my Turkish brother #SaltBae #fr7 #ELHAMDOULILLAH ♥️ pic.twitter.com/O5ztj4mueq
— Franck Ribéry (@FranckRibery) January 3, 2019
Ribery has no regrets, though, over his expensive excursions and defended his actions. He feels that his private life should not be judged and felt scapegoated, even though several other footballing icons have posted videos with Salt Bae:
In my private life, I do what I want. Many other players go to [Salt Bae] to eat, exactly like me. But no one ever talks about them. But there are videos of me!
This would appear to be the final act in what’s been dubbed “steakgate,” unless media outlets decide to launch another attack at Ribery for publicly defending himself in L’Equipe. Can we finally stick a knife in this and call it done?