The dilemma with Lewandowski
FC Bayern’s grueling struggle for the future
By Tobias Nordman
05/13/2022 10:56 am
At FC Bayern, an era is coming to an end. Robert Lewandowski is said to want to leave Munich by summer 2023 at the latest. There are two questions for the club, one of which will determine the status of the German record champions in the coming years.
FC Bayern gets a problem. an urgent one. And that very soon. According to media reports, Robert Lewandowski will leave the record champions by summer 2023 at the latest. For the club, this means the end of a tremendous era. The Polish goalscorer has been the life insurance par excellence in recent years. Three facts to prove how indispensable he was (and still is): The 33-year-old is not only the most successful foreign goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga, but also the second most successful in the all-time list (311), behind the legendary Gerd Mueller (365). Lewandowski also cracked his historic 40-goal mark. That was actually considered impossible.
It also seems impossible to replace the striker. For the time being, however, another question is more important to FC Bayern than “who does it”. Namely: When do you separate from Lewandowski? This summer? Salihamidžić has so far ruled out an early departure. However, there would only be money for the 33-year-old now. Up to 40 million euros still seem possible. FC Barcelona are extremely interested. A gigantic sum for an old man, pardon me. Or do you go down the same path together for another year? Then there are goals, maybe titles – but no more money (he is then free of charge) and possibly a bad mood.
That Pini Zahavi again
A scenario that Munich would gladly do without. The departure of defense chief and club icon David Alaba is still weighing too heavily on the club. Because there was no financial agreement (piranha consultant is the key word) as far as the future was concerned, the Austrian switched to Real Madrid in his prime as a footballer. And plays there against Jürgen Klopps FC Liverpool for the Champions League. Quite explosive: Both Alaba and Lewandowski are represented by Pini Zahavi in the negotiations. The man is not likely to be particularly popular on Säbener Straße.
There are numerous rumors about why the striker wants to leave the club. They are related to salary, contract terms, appreciation and Erling Haaland. A first round between the Bayern bosses and Lewandowski’s advisor is said to have only taken place at the end of April. The Pole had already publicly wondered about this reluctance. As Sport1 now reports, the club is said to have not presented the striker with a contract offer that is ready for signature. A new one-year contract like Thomas Müller recently would not be acceptable for the Pole. In addition, after nine years with the record champions, he is aiming for a new challenge and is said to have been dissatisfied with the situation at Bayern for some time.
The alleged interest in Haaland is said to have annoyed Lewandowski as well. Now they will know very well at the club why they will lose the striker. For future talks, such as with Serge Gnabry, Bayern will learn their lesson. For the scenario now presented, the reasons are irrelevant.
Who could do it?
In fact, the question of options is urgent. Who could fill the position in the storm? With Dortmund’s phenomenon Erling Haaland is the most exciting alternative on the market. He is known to be going to Manchester City. What’s left? Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku? A beefy guy, good at finals, and not happy in London working with trainer Thomas Tuchel, but certainly very expensive as a package. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane? A coup, but really realistic given the limited budget in Munich?
Patrick Schick from Bayer Leverkusen? Who once in Leipzig did not have a good (because unsuccessful) time with Nagelsmann? Rather risky. Sebastien Haller from Ajax Amsterdam? Not the category in which FC Bayern thinks and which is under discussion at Borussia Dortmund. Cristiano Ronaldo? Oh well. But it needs a replacement. A top replacement! A man who can secure titles.
One thing is clear: the already immense pressure on the alpha animals on Säbener Straße is increasing. Sports director Hasan Salihamidžić and club boss Oliver Kahn have to deliver. Also because both the national (BVB signs three German national players!) and international competition are gearing up. With limited financial resources. In the past few days, there have been increasing reports of criticism of Salihamidžić. There was talk of a squad disagreement with coach Julian Nagelsmann and internal criticism of the work of the sports director. According to the “Abendzeitung” from Munich, even a premature separation is possible. The future of FC Bayern will be decided with the decisions about Lewandowski.