When FC Barcelona travel to Munich for the Champions League duel, the focus is of course on Robert Lewandowski. The striker shot FC Bayern to numerous titles, now he storms for the guests. The return of the goalscorer provokes ex-boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to an appreciation.
Before seeing Robert Lewandowski again in the Champions League, former Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge praised the world footballer as one of the most important transfers in the club's recent history. Lewandowski, who was transferred to FC Barcelona in the summer after a change of theater, was "one of the most important transfers in the last 15 or 20 years," said Rummenigge to "Münchner Merkur" and "tz" in an interview before the meeting in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday (9 p.m./Amazon Prime Video and in the ntv.de live ticker). "(Franck) Ribery, (Arjen) Robben, (Manuel) Neuer, Lewandowski - in that order."
Rummenigge hopes that Bayern fans will welcome Lewandowski to the stadium for his merits. "I hope that FC Bayern and the crowd will welcome him with gratitude. You mustn't forget: he played here for eight years, won everything you can win and scored between 35 and 50 goals every year. That's what he's about Came on a free transfer and has now been sold for 45 million euros, so he has made a contribution to Bayern Munich on all levels," said Rummenigge.
In connection with critical statements about FC Barcelona, the former Munich CEO advised Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann to exercise more restraint. "I basically recommend: Schuster, stick to your last. Julian shouldn't make any political statements - that's the job of Oliver Kahn and Herbert Hainer," said Rummenigge. "He got a broadside back from Spain. I think it's always better to keep things to your own sphere of competence."
Nagelsmann had expressed his surprise several weeks ago that the highly indebted FC Barcelona was able to strengthen their team in the summer with expensive stars such as world footballer Lewandowski, who was signed by FC Bayern, or Brazilian Raphinha from Leeds United. FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta then sharply countered Nagelsmann's comment on purchasing policy.
