Ribéry rewarded with new contract

Olympique de Marseille winger Franck Ribéry has signed a new contract, tying him to the Stade Vélodrome side until June 2010. His previous deal expired just 12 months earlier.

Double transfer
The 22-year-old has been in superb form since joining Marseille from Galatasaray SK last summer, and secured the deal after several days of talks with club directors. Ribéry changed teams twice in 2005, moving from FC Metz to Galatasaray and then to Marseille, and his performances have raised the possibility of yet another transfer.

World Cup call?
He has scored five times in his first 25 league games for OM, and inspired France to UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification with a crucial strike in a play-off against England. There have been calls for coach Raymond Domenech to bring Ribéry into the senior squad for the FIFA World Cup.

'Show of confidence'
"I'm happy with this new contract," he said. "It's a show of faith from the directors. The fans have been very welcoming to me, so that made it easier to reach an agreement with the club." Ribéry is suspended for Marseille's UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie against FC Zenit St. Petersburg on Thursday after being sent off in the first leg.