FC Barcelona is enticing Robert Lewandowski, the world-class striker's adviser is campaigning aggressively for a change. FC Bayern is not yet convinced of this project. Now new pictures on Lewandowski's Twitter profile are fueling speculation again.
The change in Robert Lewandowski's Twitter profile was immediately noticeable. As is always the case when prominent public figures are hanging out on social media, there are resourceful online sleuths tracking down these activities. Until yesterday evening, the FC Bayern striker presented himself there in his profile picture in the jersey of the German record champions, in the large title photo even in a jubilant pose with the words: "New season, same motivation". But now FC Bayern has disappeared from both places, instead Lewandowski looks thoughtfully and dreamily past the camera to the left in the profile picture and advertises a fashion collection that bears his name in the cover picture.
It is the next episode of the ever more acute transfer drama that unfolds between the 33-year-old and the successful club from the Bavarian capital. Lewandowski is known to want to leave Bayern, his advisor Pini Zahavi has been campaigning aggressively for weeks. After assisting David Alaba when he left Munich last year, Zahavi has now thrown himself over once again with the management of the club.
These days he had the "Bild" align that FC Bayern had lost the "man Robert". "Human Robert" and soccer pro Lewandowski therefore want to go to FC Barcelona to get to know new stadiums, languages, national championship titles and earning potential after twelve years in the Bundesliga. Manuel Neuer was reluctant to comment on this, but asked the sporting management of his club from the DFB training camp: "If you should sell him, which signing do you have for the position in the storm?"
Of course, the conversion of the social media profile is not an absolute statement that the seven-time top scorer in the Bundesliga is already saying goodbye to FC Bayern, but it fits into the skirmishes between the club and the player. As is so often the case when footballers deal intensively with a departure from Säbener Straße, it is about appreciation, or more precisely about the lack of it.
In an interview with RTL / ntv, Bavaria's Honorary President Uli Hoeneß translated what sounds slanderous as follows: "The appreciation means euros, 99 percent." And explained: "With Alaba it was only the money, with [Niklas, editor's note] Süle it was only the money and with Robert Lewandowski I don't know. I can't imagine it, but he wants it now maybe a three-year deal, which he can't get right now." Hoeneß, who actually wanted to stay out of the operative business after his departure, is currently speaking up more often in view of the ongoing unrest in his heart project.
"I don't currently know anyone at Bayern Munich who will release Robert from his contract early," said Hoeneß to RTL / ntv. However, that would be a prerequisite for a change, because the employment contract of the Polish national team captain is valid until 2023. An extension currently seems impossible. Which in turn means that Lewandowski could go on a free transfer next year. Should FC Bayern still want to make a transfer, he would have to agree on appropriate conditions with the player and the receiving club this summer - the favorite is Barcelona.
At least there is good news for those who invest a few more minutes in Robert Lewandowski's Twitter profile. FC Bayern may have disappeared from the pictures, but the world-class striker continues to follow the club's official account. After all.
