How Bayern are pushing Lewandowski into the hands of Barcelona
FT Desk
- 5 Apr 2022 22:05 BST
- 7 min read
Bayern Munich and Barcelona couldn’t be in more contrasting scenarios ahead of their European ties this week.
The German champions will be tasked with overcoming a decent Villarreal side in a tie that they’re overwhelming favourites for, as they look to push on and win another Champions League trophy.
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Barca, in contrast, will need to be at their best to beat a passionate Eintracht Frankfurt in the knowledge that anything but a comfortable win for the Catalan giants will be seen as embarrassing for a club with as prestigious a history as theirs.
As such, one would be forgiven for thinking Barca and not Bayern would be the club currently sweating over the future of their star player. And yet, here we are, just a few months out from the summer transfer window and it seems as though Robert Lewandowski may be set to leave the Bavarian club after seven years.
Lewandowski’s desire to leave
As first reported exclusively by FootballTransfers, Barca have made Lewandowski their main transfer target this summer after dropping out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
Such a move would seem wildly audacious for the Catalan side if not for the fact that there is a growing belief that Lewandowski could push for a move this summer.
The player is now 33 years of age and has already won everything at Bayern. And, as is well known, Lewandowski has always had a desire to play in Spain. So a move to Barca this summer would help fulfil that career goal for the Poland international.
However, there are also some forces that may be pushing Lewandowski out of Bayern. The club have, for some time, struggled to hide their own admiration for Haaland, while publicly berating Lewandowski’s agent in a constant war of words over a new deal.
The striker is already Bayern’s highest paid player and would remain so if he signed a new deal, but Bayern’s reluctance to offer Lewandowski a long-term deal may suggest to the player that their loyalty to him only goes so far.
As such, an offer from Barca this summer may prove more than enticing for Lewandowski, even if he’s far likelier to win another Champions League by staying exactly where he is.
