Oliver Kahn’s “Basta” has had no effect: striker Robert Lewandowski is determined to leave Munich this summer. A transfer is now the best solution for both sides.
The day that many FC Bayern supporters have long feared is fast approaching: Robert Lewandowski is leaving the record champions. In any case, the world footballer wants to leave FC Bayern Munich – immediately. The Pole now responded to the “Basta” of Bavaria’s CEO Oliver Kahn, who last insisted on compliance with Lewandowski’s contract until the summer of 2023, with his own Basta version. “My story at Bayern is over. It’s clear to me that the transfer is the best solution for both sides,” said the goalscorer in Warsaw on Monday.
His recently politely formulated wish to want to leave Munich this summer now resembles an unequivocal demand. “After everything that has happened in the last few months, I can’t imagine working together again,” said the 33-year-old Bundesliga top scorer.
Transfer poker around Robert Lewandowski recently escalated
The transfer poker had recently come to a head. The tug-of-war over the Poles ended in a veritable mud fight. Right in the middle: The Munich board of directors, Lewandowski and his advisor Pini Zahavi. Statements by Lewandowski and his player agent that they had not received an offer to extend their contract in Munich had been firmly contradicted by sports director Hasan Salihamidzic and board boss Oliver Kahn.
Lewandowski himself announced after the last league game of the season that he wanted to leave the German record champions. He has since been linked with FC Barcelona, who are said to have already made a €32m offer. “Bayern is a serious club. I hope that they won’t just keep me because they can,” said Lewandowski on Monday.
The night before he had said on the Polish TV channel Eleven Sports that a possible change depends on many factors. But his situation is clear: “So you don’t need to arouse sympathy and talk more about this topic.”
Is Bayern Munich changing its stance?
Are Bayern now changing their route in the Lewandowski case? In any case, if the worst comes to the worst, they don’t want to let the Pole go below 40 million, they say. In the competition for Liverpool’s Sadio Mané, who, according to media reports, wants to leave coach Jürgen Klopp’s Champions League finalists, the Munich team should have pole position. A transfer of the Senegalese could accelerate Lewandowski’s departure. According to Sky, Bayern want to offer Mané a three-year contract until 2025. Accordingly, a transfer fee of 30 million euros plus possible additional payments of up to ten million euros is under discussion.
While there is still uncertainty in the opaque transfer poker surrounding Lewandowski, the Munich team clarified things with midfielder Corentin Tolisso on Monday. The French world champion’s contract, which expires in the summer, will not be extended. Ryan Gravenberch, 20, from Ajax Amsterdam is said to be in the starting blocks for the 27-year-old.
