Although Robert Lewandowski’s contract with Bayern Munich still runs for a year, it could be this summer. On the one hand, a top club is specifically interested, on the other hand, the top striker is said to be annoyed by both the bosses and coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The mood was great in the Rocco Riviera restaurant not far from Munich’s Odeonsplatz, where FC Bayern celebrated last Sunday night and celebrated winning their tenth championship in a row.
Only in the case of one, who is actually one of the main people responsible for the long-term success, was the enthusiasm contained. Robert Lewandowski stayed at the party for just 62 minutes before he and his followers fled again.
The Pole had only been in action for his club once this season, as a player in the 4-1 win in Freiburg at the beginning of April. At that time, however, the center forward, who has played 34 of 43 competitive games so far, was injured with a rib injury.
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“Has he had enough of Bavaria? Lewandowski’s mysterious championship celebration performance,” headlined the “Bild” newspaper afterwards. In fact, the rumors of emigration have persisted for weeks and, according to information from SPOX and GOAL, are much more specific than the club would like.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann reiterated on Friday at the press conference before the game in Mainz: “I’ve said it at least 50 times that I naturally wish he would stay, nothing has changed this week.”
Last Sunday, after Bayern boss Oliver Kahn, Hasan Salihamidzic also declared the striker unsaleable. “Lewy enjoys the greatest appreciation that can ever exist,” said the sports director at “Sky90”.
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But Lewandowski obviously sees things differently. In the past few months, both the lack of personal contact in the club and the lack of talks about an early extension of the contract have bothered him. And he is said to be irritated by the hymns of praise from those responsible for other top strikers, above all Erling Haaland.
Lewandowski’s relationship with Bayern coach Nagelsmann cracked
In addition, several sources reported on a strained relationship with Nagelsmann, even if he didn’t want to know anything about it. Accordingly, Lewandowski and other veterans are dissatisfied with the lack of direct communication from the coach and, above all, with the training content and tactics.
“They find the training annoying and too complex,” says an insider. In addition, Lewandowski is particularly bothered by Nagelsmann’s system change away from the 4-2-3-1 system that has been in use since Louis van Gaal, because he gets too few assists and scores much less often.
Certain types of opponents cause problems for the star striker Lewandowski
The 33-year-old has already scored 48 competitive goals this season, just as many as last season, when he improved on Gerd Müller’s all-time record of 41 Bundesliga goals. But especially against deep, well-organized opponents like Villarreal recently, Lewandowski hardly had any real chances, which was one reason for the early elimination in the Champions League quarter-finals.
For all these reasons, the thoughts of changing the six-time, soon seven-time top scorer in the league are anything but speculation. Especially since there is obviously a concrete interest from FC Barcelona.
Lewandowski advisor Zahavi: Better offer or no extension at Bayern
Lewandowski’s advisor Pini Zahavi is said to have asked for his client’s approval during the first meeting with Kahn and Salihamidzic on Thursday in team chef Alfons Schuhbeck’s restaurant in downtown Munich if Bayern did not make a lucrative offer for an extension.
But with the record champions you see almost demonstratively no reason to hurry. “He has a contract until 2023, we have all the time in the world to talk,” said Salihamidzic. And the board members also explained that to Zahavi, which is why saying goodbye this summer was out of the question.
If in doubt, you want to take the risk that Lewandowski will leave top performers like David Alaba, Jerome Boateng or Niklas Süle on a free transfer next year.
Loss of sales due to Corona: FC Bayern does not want to go over the salary cap for Lewandowski
Because the around 150 million lost sales due to the corona pandemic make Bavaria’s financial possibilities considerably more difficult, so they are reluctant to give Lewandowski, who was 34 in August, a contract for two seasons and, above all, not the club’s internal salary cap of 25 million euros per year exceed.
Because the Torgarant should already be earning between 23 and 25 million euros according to consistent reports, there seems to be little room for improvement. In view of the strained cash situation and age, a salary reduction would be more sensible, which in turn Lewandowski and his well-versed advisor would find it difficult to accept.
Lewandowski among the absolute top earners in the world
This is supported by the fact that, according to a Forbes ranking from last September, only three players worldwide earn significantly more than Lewandowski (although the discrepancy is huge): Cristiano Ronaldo (estimated at 66 million euros) and Neymar and Lionel Messi (both 71 million euros ).
On the other hand, Lewandowski’s market value has fallen significantly in recent months. According to transfermarkt, from 90 million euros in April 2018 to currently only 50 million, while the auditing company KPMG estimates it at around 66 million, but also with a downward trend.
Lewandowski: Why Bayern face problems despite the contract until 2023
Since this calculation also evaluates the age and prospects of the pros, seven Bayern teammates at transfermarkt and six at KPMG now have higher market values than the Pole. “His age of 33 depresses the market price because the demand for a professional footballer who is getting older always dwindles. His perspective is limited,” said “Sport1”.
Nevertheless, the feeling of supposed security of the FCB management could be deceptive, that Lewandowski will continue to diligently guarantee goals and titles until 2023. In this context, reference is repeatedly made to the faultless behavior and the strong performances of the attacker in his last season at Borussia Dortmund in 2013/14, when BVB blocked an early move to Munich and preferred to score instead of the supposedly high transfer fee .
Because at that time Lewandowski was not yet a world star and was not yet represented by “Piranha” Zahavi (original sound Uli Hoeneß), on the other hand, the player had great confidence in the professionalism of the contacts in Dortmund, above all Hans-Joachim Watzke. It was similar with the long-time Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who left last summer, whose clear rejections he ultimately always accepted in previous offers from Real Madrid and Manchester United Lewandowski.
Lewandowski and the tensions with Bayern bosses Nagelsmann, Kahn and Salihamidzic
But now the top star is annoyed by Nagelsmann as well as by the bosses Kahn and Salihamidzic, who insiders accuse of a lack of concept in squad planning in general and the currently expiring contracts in particular. Therefore, the signs of an extension with Serge Gnabry and Lewandowski are currently rather bad.
The club cannot do everything, especially with the aging Lewy. On the other hand, since his second season with the Reds (2015/16), he has always scored at least 40 competitive goals a year, and significantly more in the past three years. This is anything but guaranteed with the traded potential successors such as Sebastien Haller, Darwin Nunez or Patrick Schick, not to mention the transfer fee of 25 million euros and more.
Therefore, according to the critics, those responsible in Munich should have long thought about creative offers for their best striker, for example salary increases or a longer term linked to success parameters such as bonus payments for titles, appearances or goals (which then, in turn, also for the necessary revenue to finance the whole package). Instead, however, Bayern should only have offered further cooperation on the previous terms
For Lewandowski there is only one option when changing clubs
For these reasons, many close observers believe it is increasingly likely that Lewandowski and Bayern could part ways after eight years. In fact, only Barcelona comes into question for Lewandowski, since ManUnited and PSG are not really options for him and other clubs like Real, ManCty or Chelsea are not interested.
According to consistent information, Munich’s pain threshold is a transfer fee of at least 40 million euros, Barca are said to be ready to pay up to 35 million euros. Since the Catalans, who owe more than a billion euros for financing, first have to thin out the squad and find more sponsors, they are playing for time. So there could be months of transfer poker up to September.