PARIS (AP) - France winger Franck Ribery wants to leave Marseille after all.
''I wish to leave (Marseille) because I want to win other things,'' Ribery said in an interview with French television station TF1 on Friday. ''I want to play in the Champions League. I am only 23 and I want to move onto other things.''
Ribery had told Marseille's club TV network this week that he was ''still a Marseille player,'' but he appears to have changed his mind.
Marseille didn't qualify for this season's Champions League.
''Marseille's directors know where I want to go,'' Ribery said. ''My choice is made and I will not turn back.''
Five-time French champion Lyon has been chasing Ribery for several months, with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas locked in a bitter war of words with Marseille's sporting director Pape Diouf.
Speaking to cable channel Canal Plus after Lyon opened its league campaign with a 3-1 win at Nantes, Aulas said he hoped to sign Ribery.
''He has always been a priority for us and everyone here hopes he will come,'' Aulas said.
Marseille did not react well to Ribery's declaration.
''We disapprove totally with the method used by Franck Ribery this evening,'' Diouf said in a statement on the club's website. ''The improved contract he signed in March ties him to Marseille.''
Diouf promised to make life difficult for Ribery.
''Each camp must assume its share of responsibility,'' Diouf said. ''He won't be able to sign for another club without our accord.''
That could mean Marseille attempting to block any move to Lyon, leaving Ribery with only an escape route abroad.
Arsenal and Manchester United have also expressed interest in Ribery.
Ribery's reputation soared after he impressed at the World Cup, scoring in a 3-1 second-round win over Spain. He was previously voted the French league's best young player.
''I wish to leave (Marseille) because I want to win other things,'' Ribery said in an interview with French television station TF1 on Friday. ''I want to play in the Champions League. I am only 23 and I want to move onto other things.''
Ribery had told Marseille's club TV network this week that he was ''still a Marseille player,'' but he appears to have changed his mind.
Marseille didn't qualify for this season's Champions League.
''Marseille's directors know where I want to go,'' Ribery said. ''My choice is made and I will not turn back.''
Five-time French champion Lyon has been chasing Ribery for several months, with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas locked in a bitter war of words with Marseille's sporting director Pape Diouf.
Speaking to cable channel Canal Plus after Lyon opened its league campaign with a 3-1 win at Nantes, Aulas said he hoped to sign Ribery.
''He has always been a priority for us and everyone here hopes he will come,'' Aulas said.
Marseille did not react well to Ribery's declaration.
''We disapprove totally with the method used by Franck Ribery this evening,'' Diouf said in a statement on the club's website. ''The improved contract he signed in March ties him to Marseille.''
Diouf promised to make life difficult for Ribery.
''Each camp must assume its share of responsibility,'' Diouf said. ''He won't be able to sign for another club without our accord.''
That could mean Marseille attempting to block any move to Lyon, leaving Ribery with only an escape route abroad.
Arsenal and Manchester United have also expressed interest in Ribery.
Ribery's reputation soared after he impressed at the World Cup, scoring in a 3-1 second-round win over Spain. He was previously voted the French league's best young player.
