Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic continues to assume that top scorer Robert Lewandowski will stay at Bayern. Lewandowski’s reaction makes you sit up and take notice.
When asked whether Bayern might be weak in the summer with an offer of 50 million euros, Salihamidzic said sky: “No, Lewa is of course a very, very important part of our team. He’s on his way to shooting our team to titles again, so that’s out of the question.”
The 33-year-old’s contract only runs until 2023. According to Salihamidzic, Bayern will “of course do everything possible” to extend Lewandowski’s contract.
“I’m hearing that for the first time,” said Lewandowski himself after Bayern’s 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt. “I’m calm. I know that with my experience and my age I have to stay calm. It’s important for me to focus on my game.”
When asked if he wanted to stay, Lewandowski responded evasively. “I know what football looks like and how everything works. I’m always open, but what’s important for me is what happens in the next game next week,” said the Pole. The subject of the contract is secondary for him at this moment.
The sports director also once again defended the newcomer Dayot Upamecano, who has recently been criticized again and again. “Upa is young, he may need a little more time before he becomes world class, but we believe in him, we brought him to Bayern this season and he will do it. I’m sure of that,” said Salihamidzic about the 23-year-old, who came from RB Leipzig before the season.
Record national player Lothar Matthäus had recently criticized Upamecano and the Bayern defense. Salihamidzic settled the Zoff with Matthäus. “I’ve known him for 25 years, if he has something to say he’s welcome to say it. But of course I want to protect our lads, we believe in these lads, that will always be the case. I will always put myself in front of these lads, then Lothar has to put up with it,” said Salihamidzic.
And Matthäus added: “We’ve been on the phone with each other for the past few days, everything has been cleared up between us. Everyone has their views, but everyone also understands the other’s point of view.”
