'They could have cut off my leg' - Ex-Bayern Munich hero Franck Ribery reveals he nearly underwent leg AMPUTATION towards end of glittering career

The former winger told L'Équipe that a routine operation on his knee in his final season led to him almost losing his leg due to a flesh-eating infection. Ribery retired in 2022 after struggling through his final season with the Italian club Salernitana.

The severity of the injury wasn't revealed for almost five months. Ribery said he struggled to remain fit, as he had to skip training sessions to manage the pain in his knee.

Ribery told L'Equipe: "My knee hurt more and more. I was no longer training between matches but rather recovering to protect myself.

"I went under the knife in Austria. The operation went well, with a plate inserted inside. But I had a bad infection almost five months later.

"They removed the plate, but the infection had eaten away at me. It was so bad that I had holes in my leg. I had contracted Staphylococcus aureus.

"I was in the emergency room at the hospital in Austria for 12 days. I was really scared. They could have cut off my leg."

Ribery is a legend in Bavaria, winning eight Bundesliga titles and five DFB-Pokals as well as a Champions League while at Bayern. His 273 league appearances is the most by a foreign player in the club's illustrious history. It remains to be seen if he will head into coaching.