The France midfielder Franck Ribéry wants to move to Barcelona, his Bayern Munich team-mate and captain Mark van Bommel has revealed.

"Franck has told me he wants to play for Barcelona," Van Bommel told the Spanish radio station RAC1. "He is the best player in Germany and his style of play would fit well with Barça's because he is strong with great technical ability."

The Dutch midfielder's comments are poorly timed to say the least coming as they do on the eve of Bayern's Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against the Catalans. The German champions are 4-0 down from the first leg at the Camp Nou last week.

The news will also come as a blow to Manchester United and Manchester City who are believed to be tracking the player.