Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, FIFA World Player of the Year 2020-21, has confirmed his desire to leave Bayern Munich this summer after eight seasons in which he scored 344 goals.
The 33-year-old, whose current contract expires at the end of the 2023 season, did not indicate his next destination, noting that several media outlets have indicated that Barcelona is a club showing great importance for his inclusion, but financial difficulties in the Catalan team can complicate the transfer process.
Lewandowski told Sky after his Bayern club’s last Bundesliga match, which ended in a 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg, in which he scored his last 35th goal of the season and strengthened his list of top scorers: “Renewing my contract with Bayern Munich Munich.”
Lewandowski has been with the Bayern club since 2014, with his current contract expiring at the end of 2023.
He added: “I told Hasan that if an offer comes up it will have to be considered and also in the interest of the club. I think both parties should look ahead and find a better solution, I can’t say more than that.”
And Lewandowski’s public statement on live television put the Bavarian club in an awkward position, and they have always confirmed to this day that they do not intend to let him go.
Bayern Munich have confirmed they expect their veteran striker Lewandowski to remain in their ranks next season, according to their sporting director, despite reports of the player’s refusal to renew his contract.
“Leva’s contract is valid until June 2023,” Bosnian Hasan Salimadzic told Sky News on Saturday before the start of the final stage of the local league, in which Bayern won the tenth season in a row.
Regarding the possibility of Leva leaving, Salimadzic said: “This issue does not concern me, we have never changed our position.”
And the club’s president, former goalkeeper of the international giant Oliver Kahn, said in April: “Bayern are not crazy enough to discuss the departure of a player who scores 30 to 40 goals a season. Bayern Munich, we know what we owe him.”
