Ribery aims for July return

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Ribery has not played since limping out of Bayern Munich’s 7-0 drubbing of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last 16, first-leg tie, on March 11 and described the injury as a catastrophe.

The France winger admits the injury continues to test his patience but he hopes to start running again soon and make a full recovery for pre-season in July.

He is confident that Bayern are not eyeing up replacements for him despite his long term absence.

“That’s not a problem for me. If I am 100 percent fit, then anyone who wants my place can come,” said Ribery.

“The injury is getting on my nerves, it’s a catastrophe,” he told German daily Bild. “I have everything which one can only dream of in life, but I am not free.

“I think about my football the time. I just want to run! I want to play! I have to be able to train in order to be happy.”

He took himself off on holiday to Ibiza and Paris, with a physiotherapist in tow, in a bid to cheer himself up, but revealed the injury played on his mind the whole time.

Bayern went on to win the Bundesliga without him but crashed out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

“I thought it would help, but I hardly had any fun on holiday,” he said.