Because of Müller-Neuer constellation: FC Bayern is in the Lewandowski dilemma

Created: 03/22/2022, 15:55

By: Patrick Mayer

Shortly before Christmas: Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Robert Lewandowski and Alphonso Davies say hello from the screen in the Munich Arena.

© IMAGO / Eibner

The contract negotiations with Robert Lewandowski are turning into poker for FC Bayern.

Why Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller as well as Erling Haaland from BVB play an important role.

An analysis.

Munich – They have become rare in international professional football: "real nines".

When Pep Guardiola took over the coaching job at Bayern Munich*, the innovation of the “false nine” was booming.

Dribbling artists were in demand, who ideally carry the ball into the goal.

No longer these angular strikers with a special nose for goal, who circle in the penalty area and then push forward with full force to the six-yard box in order to maneuver a sharp cross from the outside just as powerfully into the goal.

Robert Lewandowski: FC Bayern Munich is in a quandary

As an absolutely exceptional footballer, Robert Lewandowski combines all qualities in his football.

Both a "false" and a "real" nine.

The Polish super striker scored 124 competitive goals (as of March 22) in two and a half years - an outstanding record.

Whether one or the other title of the German Bundesliga record champion * would have come about without him?

hypothetical.

The outstanding quality of the now 33-year-old attacker causes a lot of euphoria on Säbener Straße in Munich * but also a dilemma.

Because: His contract ends in the summer of 2023, and negotiations about a possible extension are stalling.

We are going through a difficult period financially.

FCB sports director Hasan Salihamidzic

In the video: Julian Nagelsmann reports on hurdles in discussions with Robert Lewandowski

Most recently, the former Dortmund player avoided any opportunity for a commitment to FC Bayern.

Potential buyers should be well-known, despite their age.

Recently, Liverpool FC and Lewandowski's ex-BVB coach Jürgen Klopp were also brought into play.

For the Bavarians there are two big hurdles that need to be considered in Lewandowski poker.

The first has to do with possible alternatives.

Robert Lewandowski: Isn't there an alternative for FC Bayern Munich?

• 1. Bayern problem: Lack of alternatives to Robert Lewandowski:

• It would currently be completely open who could even begin to replace the veteran storm player given his outstanding hit rate.

• Harry Kane, 28 years old, England, Tottenham Hotspur:

  The captain of the English national team is an absolute superstar in his home country and in the Premier League, but in the Bundesliga* he tends to run a bit under the radar.

  In the recent past there have been no transfer rumors about him and FC Bayern.

  A move to Germany is considered unlikely.

• Karim Benzema, 34, France, Real Madrid:

  "Benzema is one of the greatest strikers in the world, together with Robert Lewandowski the best nine ever.

  He showed that he deserved the 

  Ballon d'Or

   ," said Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois recently after the Frenchman's express hat-trick to 3-1 over Paris Saint-Germain.

  But: Benzema is 34, and therefore even older than Lewandowski.

  And: Benzema is considered a difficult character.

  And: Even with him there was no sign that he could swap Munich for Madrid.

• Dusan Vlahovic

  *, 22 years old, Serbia, Juventus Turin:

  The young goalgetter only joined Juventus Turin in the winter.

  As of March 22, he has scored 21 goals in 28 Serie A appearances for Juve and Fiorentina, including four for Turin in seven games.

  According to the specialist portal

  transfermarkt.de

  , Juve is said to have paid an alleged transfer fee of 81.5 million euros.

  Whether Bayern could currently pay that much?

  Finally, FCB sports director Hasan Salihamidzic recently said on

  Sky

  : “Of course we have a pandemic, the stadium is still not full.

  We are going through a difficult period financially.

  But we will try to go our own way.”

• Erling Haaland, 21 years old, Norway, Borussia Dortmund*:

  With Matthias Sammer, a former Munich player of all things practically destroyed the hopes of a transfer from the BVB star to Säbener.

  “They will both benefit from each other.

  Because the Pep of course – I was allowed to experience it for three years – has a certain idea,” said Sammer on

  Amazon Video

  : “Interesting constellation.” To classify: Sammer is an external consultant for Westphalia and therefore has the best internal insights.

  Despite all the footballing class, it should also be noted that the young Scandinavian has been injured repeatedly in recent months.

More and more dissatisfied in Dortmund: BVB superstar Erling Haaland (right).

© IMAGO / Kirchner Media

A lack of alternatives is not the only problem.

In addition to Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry have not yet extended their contracts (all until 2023).

The Neuer-Müller constellation thus intensifies the Lewandowski poker even more.

FC Bayern Munich: Huge investments are pending, but Corona cost a lot of money

• 2nd problem: FC Bayern has (significantly) less financial leeway

• Bundesliga rights holder

  Sky

  estimated in a post from the weekend that only the contract extensions of Lewandowski, Neuer and Müller would block Bayern up to 150 million euros in future budgets.

• This would not even include the offer and the possible fee for a Lewandowski successor.

• The Salihamidzic statements are emblematic.

  Especially at the AGM 2021 at the end of November, but also in interviews afterwards.

  CEO Oliver Kahn and President Herbert Hainer emphasized that the corona pandemic had cost the German record champions a lot of money.

• An example: FC Bayern AG’s profit for the 2020/21 season was just (or at least) 1.9 million euros*.

  The “fixed deposit account” was estimated by the bosses at the said annual general meeting to be 209 million euros.

  Current assets, such as bank balances, fell by EUR 26.9 million compared to the previous year.

  All of this leaves significantly less scope for investments and/or offers.

  And that in the middle of the Lewandowski dilemma.

(pm)

*