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Matthias Sammer: 'Douglas Costa is not a replacement for Franck Ribery'

Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer insists that new signing Douglas Costa is not a replacement for Franck Ribery.

Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has claimed that Douglas Costa was not signed to replace Franck Ribery.

The Bundesliga champions confirmed the arrival of Costa from Shakhtar Donetsk on a five-year deal on Wednesday, but Sammer has dismissed suggestions that Bayern entered the market due to Franck Ribery's battle with injuries throughout last season.

"In reference to Franck Ribery, who is injured now for a long time, I think it is very disrespectful," he told reporters. "He is injured, cannot train with the team but is still a player of Bayern Munich.

"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."

Costa is believed to have cost Bayern close to £21m.

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Leverkusen's Polish defender Sebastian Boenisch and Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group A match on October 23, 2013
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