Robben rejects Juventus offer, to stay at Bayern: Report
Arjen Robben has turned down an offer from Juventus and will stay at Bayern Munich despite a dispute with fellow star Franck Ribery, according to a media report on Friday.
Arjen Robben has turned down an offer from Juventus and will stay at Bayern Munich despite a dispute with fellow star Franck Ribery, according to a media report on Friday.
Robben declined the Italian offer with a text message, Bild newspaper said, and printed what it said was its content.
"It's a great honour when a great club like Juventus is interested. But I have no interest at the moment," Bild quoted the message as saying.
Bild said Juventus had offered Robben a three-year contract with an annual salary of €5 million ($6.54 million).
Robben's contract with Bayern expires at the end of the next season. Robben said in January that an extension was a "formality" but he still has to sign a new deal. The Netherlands winger was upset after being benched for a few games by coach Jupp Heynckes.
Bild's sister publication, the weekly Sport Bild, reported that Robben and Ribery were involved in a furious dressing room argument after the 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final this week.
The two stars may have even come to blows, the report said. The argument was over who should have taken a free kick shortly before halftime. Robben pulled Ribery back to allow Toni Kroos to take the shot.
Bayern players had to step in to separate the two, the report said. Both stars had to report to the club officials and the dispute was settled in a team meeting, Sport Bild said.
Bayern have refused to comment.
"What happens in the dressing room remains in the dressing room. We are not saying anything about it," Bayern's media director Markus Hoerwick said.