'A dream come true. It won't be easy to say goodbye': Emotional Ribery announces Bayern exit
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has emotionally announced he will call time on his career with the Bundesliga giants at the end of the season, calling his 12-year stint with the Bavarian club "a dream come true".
The Frenchman has scored 123 goals in 422 games for Bayern since joining from Marseille in 2007, during which time he won eight German titles and a UEFA Champions League crown in 2013.
This year will be his last with Bayern, as the 36-year-old declined to renew his contract with the club.
🗞️ @FranckRibery will not extend his contract with #FCBayern, and will leave this summer.Thank you for everything, Franck. ❤️#MiaSanMia, forever 👑 pic.twitter.com/QNOwpFJ9tF
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) May 5, 2019
"When I came to Bayern, it was a dream come true. It won't be easy to say goodbye, but we must never forget what we've achieved together," Ribery said in a club statement titled 'Merci et au revoir Franck!', French for 'thank you and goodbye'.
"We've won so much together - more than 20 honours."
Ribery will see out the last two games of the season, which could see him pick up another Bundesliga title as the current league leaders need just a win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to wrap up the league.
🇫🇷🇳🇱Bayern Munich have confirmed Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben will leave the club this summer. These two legends were unstoppable in their prime. Ribery Robben:🥅422 Games 🥅 306 Games ⚽123 Goals ⚽ 143 Goals🎯183 Assists 🎯 101 Assists pic.twitter.com/1RuXMbXkhV
— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) May 5, 2019
A wing partnership so good it has its own nickname, Robbery defined one of Bayern's most successful eras. It's fitting that Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry are both leaving Munich in tandem, with their legend sealed for eternity pic.twitter.com/pSlLgHurbp
— Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) May 5, 2019
the end of a great era @ArjenRobben@FranckRibery@FCBayernEN thanks for all ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/veBzgwFJNy
— 🇦🇳🇦🇸🇸 (@anass5074) May 5, 2019
Franck Ribéry confirms he's leaving Bayern this summer: "When I came to Bayern, it was a dream come true. It won't be easy to say goodbye, but we must never forget what we've achieved together" pic.twitter.com/34iFRg2dWQ
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) May 5, 2019
During his time at the club, in which he also won five DFB Pokal cups and a UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup following Bayern's European title victory, Ribery struck up a fearsome wing partnership with Arjen Robben, known affectionately as 'Robbery', and the two were instrumental in one of the club's most successful eras.
FC Bayern chairman Karl Heinze-Ruminegge paid tribute to the two "greats", who will have be honored with a testimonial in 2020.
"Franck and Arjen are great players. FC Bayern owes a lot to both of them and we will give them a wonderful and emotional farewell," he said.
"They've helped shape FC Bayern's most successful decade with fantastic football."
Also on rt.com 'Get well soon Mo!' Fans react as Salah stretchered from the pitch after suffering head injury
