Last Updated: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:46
Bayern Munich have told Manchester United and Chelsea that star forward Franck Ribery is "irreplaceable" and not for sale at any price.
The France international has emerged as one of this summer's hottest transfer targets and heads the wish-list of a number of Europe's leading clubs including United, Premier League rivals Chelsea, European champions Barcelona and big-spending Real Madrid.
A move from Bundesliga appeared likely this week when the 26-year-old's agent revealed he had not given up on his hope of thrashing out terms with Bernabeu officials.
However, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinze Rummenigge has reiterated that the Bavarian giants will not be railroaded into selling their prize asset and insist they want to build a team around him.
"Franck Ribery is irreplaceable," he told L'Equipe. "Real Madrid know our position: he is not for sale.
"That Franck wants to go to Real is not a surprise. It's a fascinating club and attractive on a financial level. But Bayern are not a bad club either.
"At our club the doors are solid and very resistant and we're not going to push up the bidding.
"Ribery figures among the best players of the world. And when you have a player of this quality among the squad you don't separate.
"We want to build around this player who (Bayern coach) Louis van Gaal absolutely wants under his command."