French midfielder Franck Ribery said he wants to leave Marseille while the club officials insisted they will not let him depart. "My wish is to leave Marseille," Ribery was quoted as saying in an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on Friday. "I want to leave because I want to win things. I want to play in the Champions League. "I want to continue to develop; I want to be around big players. For me, that's important." Ribery is demanding a move to a bigger club after he helped France reach the final match of the World Cup 2006. He scored an important goal against Spain in the round of 16 and was a starter throughout the tournament.
Ribery is believed to be keen on joining Lyon, France's undisputed champions for the past five years. He has also been linked with a move to Premiership giants Arsenal and Manchester United. Marseille chairman Pape Diouf was angry with Ribery's comments and said that the 23-year-old will not join any team against his side's will. "We disapprove totally with the method used by Franck Ribery this evening. The improved contract he signed in March ties him to Marseille," Diouf told Marseille's official website. "Each camp must assume its share of responsibility. He won't be able to sign for another club without our accord." Ribery is unlikely to leave without Marseille's approval, since he is contracted to the French side until 2010.
