Franck Ribery has agreed to a two-year, €8M contract with Fiorentina, as announced on Wednesday. A move the shows the ambitions of La Viola’s new ownership, as the former Bayern start was a still coveted free agent even in the twilight of his career.
Ribery left the German giants after 12 years, where he amassed over 400 appearances and scored 124 goals. In Munich, he won the Champions League in 2013, alongside the UEFA Supercup and the Club’s World Cup, and prevailed in Bundesliga nine times, six in the domestic cup and five in the supercup. He was named UEFA’s player of the year when they triumphed in Champions League. He racked 81 caps with France over his 12-year run.
He is coming off three relatively clean seasons injury-wise, managing to play over 30 times in each, posting 16 goals and 16 assists over this stretch counting the league alone. In his first remarks at the airport, he stated: “I am happy to be here with my family, we will do something together now. I have been in touch with the executives for a week and also spoke with Luca Toni, who told me that this is a great club and that the city is nice. I like the Italian language too. Mine is not perfect yet, but I am progressing. I expect great affection. Thanks for everything.”
Vincenzo Montella is expected to use a more streamlined 4-3-3 this year and they had to find a starting left winger and, while Ribery is unlikely to be the only addition in that role, he will obviously be the main interpret when fit and complete the trident next to Federico Chiesa and Kevin-Prince Boateng, with Giovanni Simeone and youngsters Dusan Vlahovic and Riccardo Sottil as the alternatives for now.
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