Munich (AP) – Record national player Lothar Matthäus sees errors in the negotiation strategy of FC Bayern with star striker Robert Lewandowski.
“I would have extended Lewandowski’s contract much earlier. Lewandowski has twice become world footballer, and if you have the chance to tie such a player to you, then you should do everything for it,” said the Sky expert of the German Press Agency.
The contract of the 33-year-old attacker runs in Munich until the summer of 2023. Recently there was speculation about a premature departure from FC Barcelona. Bavaria’s CEO Oliver Kahn had ruled out a change in the summer. Talks about a contract extension have not yet led to an official result.
Lewandowski is also a guarantee for consistency
“I don’t look at age, but at performance,” said Matthäus. “If there were four or five players like that in the squad, then you should think about who could still be important next year and where a change should take place. But every team would like to have a Lewandowski in their ranks.”
The top striker is not only a guarantee for goals, but also for consistency. “In the last ten years he played 95 percent of all games,” said Matthäus. Players such as Borussia Dortmund’s offensive player Erling Haaland or Marco Reus, on the other hand, were injured more often. “That’s why Dortmund didn’t play so consistently this season, because you depend on these players in top form.”
FC Bayern welcomes BVB on April 23 (6:30 p.m. / Sky) for the top game, with a win Bayern would complete their tenth championship in a row.