Ribery threatens to leave

Ribery has been linked with other clubs since impressing for France in the World Cup and now looks set to make the move with Marseille lying eighth in Ligue 1.

"Honestly, and I repeat what I have said, (staying) is going to depend on qualifying for the Champions League," Ribery said as he continued his recovery from a broken foot. "I also want to discover other foreign leagues, like the English and Spanish, as well."

"I will not make the same error as last year in announcing things and speaking too quickly," he continued. "But I am saying it very clearly: I want to play in the Champions League. It is a personal objective and a priority.

"I hope to God that I can get there with Marseille."

Ribery has been at the Stade Velodrome since 2005, following an ill-fated spell at Galatasaray where he impressed on the pitch but claimed the club owed him back wages. The 24-year-old has had six clubs in his short career, rising through the French lower divisions before coming to prominence at Metz in 2004/5, with Marseille being the first where he has played more than one full season.