adminMUNICH. – The era of Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich is coming to an end.
The Poland striker, who has scored 344 goals in 374 competitive games for the German side, has made it very clear he wants to leave this summer.
“My story with Bayern is over. I don’t see any possibility to play for this club anymore,” Lewandowski said during a press conference with the Poland team.
These are harsh words coming from one of Bayern’s mainstays during the past 10 years.
Lewandowski, advised by agent Pini Zahavi, has chosen confrontation over dialogue with his club to force a move.
In recent weeks, Bayern’s management repeatedly stated Lewandowski is not for sale, pointing at his contract that runs until 2023.
However, the striker, who will turn 34 in August, intends to sign one last lucrative deal this year and has chosen Barcelona as the destination for what will likely be the final stage of his career.
Lewandowski’s exit is only one issue, though, for a club considered a European superpower for more than a decade but one now in danger of falling even further behind the continent’s top clubs.
The quarter-final loss to Villarreal in this year’s Champions League has raised questions about Bayern’s competitiveness outside the Bundesliga.
Winning the league for a 10th time in a row means little, as the domestic competition, including Borussia Dortmund, is miles behind Bayern.
In contrast, Bayern are fighting an uphill battle internationally because of financial constraints.
Having made the Champions League semi-finals in eight of the past 13 seasons, Bayern have now been knocked out at the quarter-final stage in the last two years – and there are fears things could soon get even worse.
Bayern can count on reliable sponsors but do not have billionaire owners.
Consequently, their liquid assets decreased from 221m (£188m) to 113m euros (£96m) during the past two years, mainly because of the impact of Covid-19 on revenue streams. A further decrease down to 60m euros (£51m) is expected.
Manager Julian Nagelsmann is planning for a three-man attack like Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, because Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala are suitable for such a set-up.
Bayern have also approached Sadio Mane’s management and are working hard on a deal with the Senegal forward, although there are still some financial issues to resolve in those negotiations.
He would not be a Lewandowski replacement, but he could be seen as a statement signing for the German side and possibly prevent Bayern from falling behind even further on a European level. – BBC Sport
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter