Lewandowski vs Bayern Munich: The transfer saga could turn messy

Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich have very different views when it comes to the striker’s future. Although the player essentially bid farewell to the club on Saturday, Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer insisted on Sunday that his contract, which runs to 2023, must be fulfilled.

The Pole has been at Bayern Munich since joining on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2014 and, after eight years in Bavaria, he wants a new adventure.

After scoring his 35th goal of the Bundesliga season in a 2-2 draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday, Lewandowski waved goodbye to the fans and later said: "It's very possible that this was my last game for Bayern Munich. I cannot say that 100 percent, but it may have been. We want to find the best solution for me and for the club."

However, Bayern Munich expect the 33-year-old to form part of their 2022/23 squad. Speaking on Sport1’s STAHLWERK Doppelpass on Sunday, Hainer stated: "Robert has a contract until 2023 and that's how long he will play with us. There is no substitute for such a world-class player. He has a contract, so I assume he fulfils it. It is his right not to extend his contract."

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Lewandowski and Bayern’s different views on the new contract offer

The situation risks turning ugly, as the two parties have expressed different views on whether or not Bayern Munich offered their star striker a new contract. Lewandowski claims he never received an offer from the club, whereas Hainer explained that there have been talks but no written offer, stating: “Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic made him an offer for an extension, but apparently that wasn't accepted. A written offer is only given when everything has been negotiated verbally. First you start talking, then you negotiate.”

Bayern Munich are willing to lose Lewandowski for free

Even though Lewandowski has expressed his desire for a solution to be found this summer that suits him and Bayern Munich, the German club aren’t thinking about cashing in on their player. They’d rather have him for 2022/23 and lose him for free next year.

As Hainer put it: “Of course we could let him go for free. Remember that we also signed him on a free transfer.”

So, as much as Saturday’s final game of the Bundesliga season seemed like a farewell for Lewandowski, there could be a long way still to go in this summer’s transfer saga. It could turn into a messy divorce, if they even go their separate ways at all.