For former world champion Lothar Matthäus, Robert Lewandowski’s call for a farewell to Bayern Munich as soon as possible points to deeper problems with the Bundesliga champions.
“It’s a pity and noticeable that more and more players want to leave FC Bayern. That wasn’t the case in the past. But this development certainly doesn’t cast a good light on this club,” wrote the long-time Bayern captain in his “Sky” column. That’s how I see it.”
Matthäus presented the “Lewandowski case” in connection with the transfer of national player Niklas Süle from FC Bayern to national archrival Borussia Dortmund as an example of Munich’s new difficulties: “As a professional you notice whether things are changing in a club, the backing is crumbling and a lot of other things are no longer what you were used to – and the trend at Bayern is no longer the same as it was a while ago, both in terms of sport and appreciation for Robert.”
Robert Lewandowski’s change request “absolutely understandable”
Accordingly, “it is absolutely understandable that ‘Lewy’ is no longer interested in Bayern,” said Matthäus, also with a view to Munich’s interim interest in Erling Haaland before the Norwegian switched from Dortmund to English champions Manchester City.
Lewandowski “couldn’t imagine working together in the future and continuing his career in Munich. He just wants to leave – and quickly. The club has to blame itself for this, not least because of what has become public and has long been known in the industry strong advances towards Haaland.”
Matthäus also wants to see parallels between Lewandowski and Süle and former Bayern aces and newly crowned Champions League winners Toni Kroos and David Alaba from Real Madrid.
The ex-world champion Kroos, who was “revered” by the royals, had previously been “scorned in Munich”, and that the Austrian defensive star Alaba would be missing from Bayern after his departure a year ago, “almost everyone could have guessed”.
FC Bayern: According to Matthäus, Mané is not a Lewandowski replacement
Matthäus does not see the adequate successor for Lewandowski in Sadio Mané from FC Liverpool, who is being courted by the Munich team. “Apart from the fact that there is no replacement for the Pole in the world, I don’t see Mané as a center forward, but on the wing,” said the 61-year-old.
In Matthäus’ eyes, Mané would be “a wonderful attraction for the whole Bundesliga”, but in his opinion FC Bayern would need “a new number nine” if Lewandowski were to leave.
Matthäus added: “This could be Sasa Kalajdzic from VfB Stuttgart. He probably won’t score 40 goals, but he will definitely score 25.”