Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich star said he was just around the corner from the move to Real Madrid, but he rejected the move at the end, after he promised the Bavarian club management Lionel Messi role with the team Barcelona.

Ribery said he will leave the Royal team in 2009, saying: "I talked a lot with Bayern Munich, management, and club president at the time told me that big its significance with the team, and assured me that he consider me like the owner of Messi's pivotal role with the Catalans."

He added: "Real Madrid has sought vigorously to contract with me, I did not know the price requested by Bayern in the deal, in the end, I'm glad the decision taken."

The French star continued: "In fact I was close to leaving because of the relationship is strong with the team's coach at the time, the Dutch coach Louis van Gaal Manchester United, currently, we had problems on a personal level."

Ribery and conclude: "Van Gaal did not care about the names or the stars, and I deal with him was poisoned at the beginning, lost confidence as a professional, is a good coach on the field, but it is not a bad coach."

It is noteworthy that the star 32-year-old spends his last two seasons in his contract with Bayern, but the player is moving to extend his stay with Bayern Munich.