The mudslinging over Robert Lewandowski is over. After almost three months of public debate, all parties have gotten their way and all feel like winners. The former Bayern striker explains why in an interview.
World striker Robert Lewandowski has justified his change drama to FC Barcelona. "Maybe certain things just had to happen so that the change was possible in the end," the 33-year-old explained to "Bild" in what was probably his last interview in Germany before the final agreement between the clubs was still pending. The record player should flush Bayern Munich 45 million euros plus further bonus payments into the coffers. The last few weeks before the decision had degenerated into an undignified mud fight.
This had already begun after winning the German championship in the game against Borussia Dortmund on April 23rd. At that time, Lewandowski had given an insight into his injured ego for the first time and indicated his departure from Munich. For the next three months, poison arrows flew back and forth between the record striker and his employer.
Bayern declared him not for sale, the player and his advisor answered with unambiguous sentences. "FC Bayern is history for Robert," said Pini Zahavi and Lewandowski paraphrased during a stay with the national team. He said: "My story at Bayern is over." Meanwhile, the clock was ticking for the move, which was set to happen ahead of the two superclubs' US marketing tours. That's how it happened. And everyone turned out to be happy people, presented themselves as winners of the transfer saga.
FC Barcelona got its superstar, which should lead the stumbling giants back to their former glory. The player the chance to shine again in a new league. And Bayern their rest, at least 45 million euros - and thus more than for any other player so far - and an opportunity to justify the legendary "Basta" of the CEO Oliver Kahn as a negotiating position.
"I said that both sides did things that were unnecessary. But maybe certain things had to happen so that the change was possible in the end. I think both sides are satisfied now. Bayern get a lot of money, I can go Barcelona", Lewandowski, who spoke of the "most difficult decision of my life", described the situation.
Because with Lewandowski, Bayern are losing their absolute goal guarantor: since moving from Borussia Dortmund to the Isar in 2014, he has scored an impressive 344 goals in 375 games for Munich. During this time, the Pole was the first Bayern professional to win the world football championship twice (2020 and 2021), won the Champions League (2020) and broke the "eternal" Bundesliga goal record of "Bomber" Gerd Müller with 41 goals in the 2020/21 season .
"It was eight wonderful years here, so I hope that we can forget what happened in the past few weeks with some distance. There were unnecessary things, from both sides," said Lewandowski of "Bild". "I know the business, I know what was said and written. A lot was unnecessary, a lot of false rumours."
Now that all the rumors are over, Lewandowski can look ahead. He will sign a contract with Barcelona until 2026 and the date, the striker says, does not have to mean the end of his career. "I know I'll be 34 soon, but I feel very strong physically and mentally. Barcelona felt the same way," he said. "I don't know how things will continue after that, but even 2026 doesn't have to be the end. I want to play at the top level for many years to come."
