Robert Lewandowski is not on strike. But he is said to be extremely listless in the first training session with Munich. At least that's the silly season interpretation of the boulevard. What is it? And how long will FC Bayern accept the hiring of its superstar?
In the summer slump in the Bundesliga, as is well known, every little movement is (at least) a message. Robert Lewandowski and his change saga, or his non-change saga, have been filling the sporting gap for weeks until the start of the 60th league season. Since the world footballer expressed his wish to leave, there has been conjecture, speculation and analysis. It is logical that the 33-year-old's return to training at FC Bayern is a super highlight of the summer slump.
It's wonderful what you can interpret into this short appearance of the elite striker who is willing to change. A quick touch on the ear suddenly becomes a "bored scratching". And of course Lewandowski does not enter the training ground. no He shuffles. If he kicks the ball, it does so with absolutely no energy. Logically, because, according to the remote diagnosis, his thoughts have long been in Barcelona. At the Catalan club, his new dream club. Which he'd rather switch to sooner rather than later. Preferably this week.
The "image" is even active in mind reading. The Pole had completed the entire performance in the morning with a "zero buck attitude". The training becomes a "listless unit". Lewandowski doesn't shuffle with the sheet, but he "saunters" instead. You can argue about the respective speeds of the two gaits, but be careful: Strolling could even be interpreted as pleasurable. However, the mentalists on the boulevard know: The shoulders are sagging, the boy is not in the mood. Pure disinterest!
However, Lewandowski is actually late for training. A rarity for the always meticulous and fit Pole. Before his return to Munich there had been much speculation (silly season!) as to whether he might go on strike to Spain. The world footballer is obviously not going this route, but is he perhaps just doing service to rule? And how will Bayern officials, coach Julian Nagelsmann and the team deal with it?
Thanks to their magical powers, the "Bild" mind readers recognize a kind of break in the way other professionals deal with Lewandowski because he "hardly" spoke to them. Lucas Hernández even turned away after the striker slapped his back. What an affront, what a crack in the team! Well, photos from the training session show Lewandowski chatting with Benjamin Pavard, ear-pinching with Jamal Musiala and - crazy but arguably true - sharing a laugh with Hernández.
It is up to each football fan to interpret the events themselves. But it wasn't quite as one-sided and lacking in energy, although the "Bild" even constitutes a "peak of Lewandowski's listlessness". The striker loses with his training group and should actually do push-ups as punishment, but according to the tough analysis: "Lewy wasn't in the mood for it!" It almost seems as if Giovanni Trappatoni from the off would be the next to say "What do Lewandowski allow?" call in.
But seriously: Pictures show that the attacker was not the only one who prefers to get a drink for refreshment. Nevertheless, other photos show, interpretation aside, how Lewandowski keeps his distance from other players and stands at the back of the crowd during a tactical speech by Nagelsmann and averts his gaze (demonstratively, one would like to claim in the boulevard).
Such impressions do not work well in a team that wants to attack again big in Europe next season, after two consecutive quarter-finals of the Champions League ended. This requires absolute unity. Those responsible at Bayern are faced with a dilemma, because they won't be able to find a centre-forward replacement any time soon, if the world footballer should be replaceable at all. But if Lewandowski is actually disinterested in upcoming training sessions and games (to possibly force a move in late summer or then in the winter break), another "Basta" against the transfer might be a big mistake.
But, as both the bosses and the professional know, in the background Barcelona seems more and more ready to make an offer for the star striker that corresponds to the wishes of the German record champions: 50 million plus bonuses - ten million more than previously offered. In the coming week, millions more are expected to flow from a rights sale at the former Messi club.
Incidentally, the Catalans held a unit on the pitch at the same time as Bayern training. Certainly no one shuffled or strolled. But be careful: Crazy enough, there are also photos from Säbener Straße on which Robert Lewandowski is sprinting. You might not think it's possible, but if you look closely, even his shoulders don't sag. Summer break, ole.
