08 Mar “I was in touch with him”: A-League coach confirms talks with Bayern Munich star

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel revealed he has spoken to Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery about potentially joining the A-League club as a marquee player.

Ribery, 35, is out of contract with the five-time European champions in what could be his final year in Germany after a decorated 12-year spell.

Babbel, who made 182 appearances over two spells with the Bavarians, conceded luring the Frenchman to Australia is a long shot due to better offers he could receive from cashed-up leagues.

“Franck Ribery, of course, I was in touch with him,” Babbel told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“I said ‘Ok, if you want to earn a lot of money then you have to go to Qatar or somewhere. But if you want to be a rock star, then you have to come to Australia’.

“He hasn’t decided at the moment, but I can’t believe that he will come here, because we’re talking about a category that normally for the A-League is not realistic.”

Ribery has made 414 appearances and scored 122 goals for Bayern, winning nine Bundesliga titles was an integral part of the club's historic treble-winning campaign in 2013.

He was also a runner-up with France at the 2006 World Cup.