Especially since Lewandowski was hardly ever injured.
Different signs, same incentive
The world footballer has apparently decided against staying at Bayern, Haaland against moving to Munich. I think that for both of them the same reason contributed to their respective decisions.
Both decided against Bayern because they feel the great appeal of achieving something special.
Of course with different signs: Lewandowski has won and cleared everything that is possible at Bayern – from the Champions League title to the personal world footballer award. So everything that Haaland still wants to achieve.
The incentive is the same for both.
Where do the challenges fit?
Despite spending billions in transfer fees alone in recent years, Manchester City have not yet won the Champions League. So Haaland can become a hero if he turns out to be the building block that was previously missing.
FC Barcelona has a crash behind it with a disappointing performance in the European Cup, meanwhile only a ninth place in the league and the financial near collapse. If the final resurrection with Lewandowski succeeds after an up in the league, he may lift the club into spheres where it was last with Lionel Messi.
Bavaria? Real Madrid? Liverpool FC? The clubs have all won the Champions League in recent years. It’s hard to top that. Of course, the financially incredibly attractive offer also plays a role in both. But you also have to see where the challenge fits.
Bayern decision is legitimate
Dortmund has been able to prepare for a departure from Haaland for some time now, and Lewandowski’s desire to change no longer comes as a complete surprise.
I wrote in February: “If Bayern don’t try to extend the contract, it will be the worst decision in the club’s history.”
Now I have to protect the club.
Indeed, there have been discussions. However, FC Bayern decided to only offer Lewandowski an extension for another year until 2024, as he did with Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer.
In my opinion, this is a legitimate decision because the sums and salaries involved are so incredibly high. Bayern is not in a position to say: “It doesn’t matter if you pay 10 or 20 million euros a year.”
No understanding for Lewandowski
Bayern can only pay these sums if a world-class player reaches his absolute top level. And nobody can guarantee that at the age of 33 or 34 – at least not for the next three or four years. A player like Lewandowski, who would have preferred to sign a contract for two or three more years, has to accept that.
I also have little understanding when a player of that age is offended because the club deals with other and younger players, like Bayern did with Haaland in this case.
Sport director Hasan Salihamidzic said about Haaland in a “double pass” at the beginning of the season: “60 games, 60 goals, you have to look at that, otherwise we would be complete amateurs.” Lewandowski is said to have been upset even then. But that’s just the business.