The end of a cycle.
After eight seasons of making Bayern Munich happy, Robert Lewandowski has desires elsewhere.
This is what the prolific (344 goals scored with the Bavarian jersey) 33-year-old Polish striker said on Monday during a press conference with the selection of his country.
Lewandowski wants to write a new chapter đź“– pic.twitter.com/TZbzDhHZ2i
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 30, 2022
“One thing is certain today: my story with Bayern has come to an end.
After all that has happened over the past few months, I can't imagine continuing good cooperation.
I realize that a transfer will be the best solution for both parties.
I think that Bayern will not retain me only because they have the right to do so, ”underlined Robert Lewandowski.
Under contract until 2023, the double best Fifa player (2020 and 2021) was hoping for a two-season extension, but his club only offered him one.
Two weeks ago, he had already indicated that he would not extend his contract, which means that he could leave the club free next year, without Bayern receiving any compensation.
The only way for the Bavarians to make a financial profit from his departure would be to sell him this summer.
“I told Hasan (Salihamidzic, sports director of Bayern) that if an offer arrives, then it will have to be studied, also in the interest of the club”, he had declared on May 14 on Sky, at the from the last game of the Bundesliga season at Wolfsburg (2-2).
Lewandowski notably won the 2020 Champions League and eight German championship titles with Munich, in addition to his first two titles won with Dortmund.
He also broke a significant number of goalscoring records, the most publicized of which was the number of goals in a single Bundesliga season.
With 41 goals last season, he brought down a mark that the Germans thought was eternal: the 40 goals of "Bombardier" Gerd MĂĽller in the 1971-1972 season.
In the Champions League, he is the third top scorer of all time, tied with Karim Benzema (86 goals), still far behind Cristiano Ronaldo (140 goals) and Lionel Messi (125 goals).
It remains to be seen where the striker will continue his career.
According to some media, FC Barcelona would have made an offer of 32 million euros (plus €5 million in bonuses) to recruit him.
For its part, Bayern says it is confident in its chances of attracting Sadio Mané (against €30m), one year from the end of the Senegalese striker's contract with Liverpool.
