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We follow the pursuit of Bayern Munich and France star Franck Ribery.

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• Franck Ribery player profile

January 11, 2009 - Ribery hints he wants to leave the Bundesliga giants: "You never know what happens in football. I am not threatening Bayern and I have not said I would leave Munich, but what should you say when you are asked what will happen in three years?"

March 4, 2009 - Bayern Munich chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "Franck is happy at our club and is not seeking a transfer away from here."

April 13, 2009 - Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel: "Franck wants to play for Barcelona, more than that, I think it would be a good thing if Barca buys him, he would adapt easily,"

May 5, 2009 - Manchester United reportedly offer Bayern Munich 70 million euros (£60m) for Ribery.

June 2009 - Ribery emerges as a leading transfer target for new Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, along with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

June 13, 2009 - Real advisor Zinedine Zidane says that Ribery is in talks over a move to Madrid.

June 16, 2009 - Bayern general manager Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Real's claims are hot air and that bids have only been received from Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona. All were rejected as Bayern hold out for at least £60m for the Frenchman.

June 17, 2009 - As rumours intensify that Real Madrid could offer Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart in exchange, Rummenigge softens his stance and says that "if he really wants to go" they could do business.

June 27, 2009 - After the Ribery saga appeared to die down somewhat, The Telegraph suggested that his move to Chelsea could be back on with Real Madrid cooling their interest after spending one billion dollars on attacking midfielders.

June 29, 2009 - Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness insists Ribery will stay, saying: "Did you ever think that we would give in? Have we ever shown signs of weakening? Franck will be on our training field on July 1."

July 2, 2009 - Ribery tells l'Equipe: "I have made up my mind, I want to leave. It will be Real (Madrid) or nothing."

July 8, 2009 - Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano admits that the Spanish club have given up on trying to break Bayern's resolve: "Bayern finds many ways to say no, sometimes saying it categorically, sometimes by talking of a transfer fee of 80 million euros, which is another way of saying no."

July 12, 2009 - Reports in Sport magazine claim that Barcelona will offer Bayern Munich Alexandr Hleb, Eidur Gudjohnson AND cash for Ribery.

July 13, 2009 - AS are a pro-Real Madrid publication so, like Marca, can be viewed as the club's mouth-piece. They say that Los Merengues could get Ribery for as little as 16m euros next summer should the player invoke the Webster Clause (FIFA Article 17), which allows him to buy out his contract after serving three years. A genuine story or more Madrid hard-ball?