‘I’ve been criticised by people who don’t know football’ – Franck Ribéry on his time in France | OneFootball

Franck Ribéry played for FC Metz, Brest, Lille, and Olympique de Marseille in the early 2000s, before he made the biggest name for himself abroad in Italy with Fiorentina, and then with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. In an interview with L’Équipe, the retired France international revealed that he has a complex relationship with France, after spending the best years of his career abroad. “In Germany, I feel at home. I’ve been there for twelve years. My children have grown up in this country. In Italy, I felt the passion as I love football. Wherever I go, people greet me with such pride and gratitude,” said the Ribéry on his relationship with Germany and Italy in comparison to France. “But don’t get me wrong, I do love France, my country!”“All of that has built me up and shaped me and made me who I am today. There have been difficult situations. I’ve made mistakes. But who hasn’t? There have been injustices too,” admitted the former Olympique de Marseille player. “I’ve mainly been criticised by people who don’t know football.” Franck Ribéry was one of the players who took the most flack following the infamous ‘strike’ of France players at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Les Bleus refused to train after the French Football Federation decided to expel striker for a verbal exchange with coach Raymond Domenech. The pejorative insult accused of Anelka was then found to be wrongly reported by L’Équipe at the time. GFFN | George Boxall