Bayern Munich’s contract negotiations with Lewandowski divert attention away from the Champions League
Bayern Munich should concentrate on their Champions League last-16 match in midweek, but with Robert Lewandowski pressing for a new contract, transfer speculation around the Poland striker’s future is clouding the situation.
Following a 1-1 draw in Austria, Bayern will face Red Bull Salzburg in a Champions League last-16 return leg clash on Tuesday.
Lewandowski has not scored in his last three games, which is unusual for him, and his future off the field appears to be a little hazy.
Manchester United reportedly led a list of Premier League clubs to approach Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, over the weekend.
Lewandowski, 33, is out of contract in June 2023, along with fellow Bayern veterans Manuel Neuer, 35, and Thomas Mueller, 32.
Even though Neuer and Mueller have been notified in person that the club wants to extend their contract, Lewandowski has not.
Hasan Salihamidzic, Bayern director, publicly indicated last month that the club did not want to trade him. “It’s not going to happen.” Robert is a crucial member of the squad.”
Lewandowski, on the other hand, was taken aback by the news.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard that,” he remarked.
Lewandowski, a Poland international, will turn 34 in August, yet he is still at the top of his game thanks to his rigorous physical regimen.
This season, he has scored 39 goals in 34 games across all competitions.
Lothar Matthaeus, a German star, said in his weekly Bild column that he was surprised Bayern had not already decided on the future of their top scorer, who was crowned FIFA’s best male player for the second year in a row last December.
“I prick up my ears when the world’s best footballer admits in front of the television that he hasn’t been told that (Bayern) wants to keep him,” complained Matthaeus.
Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn stated before Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Leverkusen that Lewandowski, like Mueller and Neuer, will be granted a new contract after certain goals are met.
“Now we want to focus entirely on what’s at stake: becoming German champions and winning the second leg versus Salzburg.” “Then we’ll have a look,” Kahn stated emphatically.
Matthaeus, on the other hand, feels Bayern’s uncertainty with Lewandowski is due to Erling Haaland’s warning that he may leave Dortmund before next season.
In Monaco, Kahn met with Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola.
“Yes, it is correct. Meeting with a player’s representation is common,” Kahn said, declining to elaborate.
Bayern is reportedly keen to avoid losing Lewandowski to Real Madrid on a free transfer after losing David Alaba to Real Madrid last season. Lewandowski joined Bayern on a free transfer from arch-rivals Dortmund in 2014.
Lewandowski is estimated to be worth roughly 50 million euros ($55 million) by Bayern Munich.
When his current Bayern Munich contract expires, Lewandowski will be almost 35, but he recently told the French program “Telefoot” that he wants to play for “at least five” more years.
In addition to rumored Premier League interest, Lewandowski’s future in Spain is a topic of speculation.
According to Marca, Bayern Munich is interested in signing Atletico Madrid’s 22-year-old Joao Felix, which might result in Lewandowski returning to Atletico.
Speculation aside, Lewandowski has stated that he will determine where he will play next season.
When asked about a contract extension, Lewandowski said, “With all my experience, I’m relaxed.”
“I’m open to anything, but contracts are a no-no for me.”
“I’m open to anything, but contracts are a secondary problem for me, so they stay in the background.”
“The player (Lewandowski) chooses what happens, not the club,” former Bayern coach Felix Magath recently said on a Sky chat show.
