"Actually, it's exactly the other way around," said the 32 year old, "If he wants his peace, he should come. In Australia, you can live your life as a footballer in peace.

":Of course, fans from time to time talk to you on the street, but this is not comparable to Europe or South America. I think even a Franck Ribéry could eat his gold steak here in peace."

But he ruled out a Ribery move to Sydney or anywhere else in the A-League, insisting the money on offer elsewhere in Asia was too good to turn down.

"I can not really imagine it," he said. "Especially in recent years, top stars like Torres or Iniesta have been associated with Australian clubs again and again, but I do not think the money is enough for such players.

"They are probably more oriented towards China or Japan, where more is paid. So it would be a huge surprise if Ribéry came."

Now Baumjohann himself may be headed to Asia.

His contract with wanderers is up at the end of the season, and although e's been linked with a move to A-League new boys Western United for next season, he's more keen on other countries.

"I would definitely like to play in Asia again," he said. "Not necessarily in Saudi Arabia, but something like Japan or South Korea, I could definitely imagine very well.

"There, the level is even higher than here in Australia. 

But he's not ruling out continuing his stay in Sydney, after being lured here by the prestige of Alessandro Del Piero and Thomas Broich and their experiences in the A-League, as well as the Asian Champions League glory enjoyed by Western Sydney Wanderers.

"You have a great standard of living here," he said. "Compared to many other countries, the cities are top. But in my case, it's all about sports.

"I'm not here because I want to end my career. I decided to step because I want to kick for another five or six years.

"I think the club is moving in the right direction. Next year the new stadium will be ready and the club will have a good future."