German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich's sporting director Matthias Sammer on Thursday said the suggestion of replacing winger Franck Ribery with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa is "disrespectful" to the former.
Costa completed a $33.2 million move to Bayern on Wednesday on a five-year deal. But Sammer has dismissed the notion that the 24-year-old has been roped in to replace the former France international who has been battling a long-term injury problem.
"In reference to Franck Ribery, who is injured now for a long time, I think it is very disrespectful. He is injured, cannot train with the team but is still a player of Bayern Munich," Sammer was quoted as saying by goal.com.
"We will wait for him, he has our full support and we hope that he will come back healthy as soon as possible. Douglas Costa is not his replacement," he said.
"Of course, Costa can play on the right side, because he can attack the middle with his strong left foot but he can also play on the left side and in the middle.
Altogether I see him as an offensive player, with a lot of flexibility," said Sammer who added Bayern "will wait and see" on the future of long-serving midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is rumoured to be on his way out of the club.
