Robert Lewandowski leaves FC Bayern and joins FC Barcelona. After a tough struggle, both sides have finally reached an agreement, according to several media reports.
As Sport1 reports, the Pole has signed a contract in Catalonia until 2025, and the striker has an option for another year. Bayern eventually accepted Barca’s fourth and final offer, collecting €45m plus another bonus payment of €5m. ESPN, table football and picture also confirmed the change.
The 33-year-old took part in the official DFL photo session on Friday, but Lewandowski will no longer be present at the team presentation on Saturday. Both the Bavarians and the Pole were not interested in the striker who is willing to change in the Allianz Arena.
Lewandowski will therefore not take part in the trip to the USA, which Bayern start on Monday. Instead, he joins the FC Barcelona entourage who will also travel to the United States. As part of the presentation of newcomer Raphinha, Barca President Joan Laporta was still cautious about the state of affairs with Robert Lewandowski: “We have contacted the clubs, but out of respect for FC Bayern I cannot evaluate the negotiations. I want that Don’t delve further into the topic, but we haven’t received an answer yet.”
The attacker joined Bayern’s training on Tuesday, but made a listless impression. Lewandowski also ignored penalties from coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Lewandowski: 344 goals for Bayern
Lewandowski’s era at Bayern ends after eight years. During this time, the Pole became champion eight times, won the cup three times, won the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the European Supercup in 2020 and the top scorer six times. Lewandowski scored 344 goals in 375 competitive games for Bayern Munich.
But he never became a real fan favorite like his congenial offensive partner Thomas Müller. FC Bayern, it seemed to many, was Lewandowski only a means to an end – more titles, more goals, more fame, more money. He got more than enough appreciation from the club, the bosses paid tribute to him and his contribution to success in the most unctuous words. But when they tried to find Juwel Erling Haaland as a possible successor, the relationship cooled off noticeably until it broke in the spring.
Lewandowski is said to have started looking for a new place to live in Barcelona in April. At that time, CEO Oliver Kahn called the rumors of change “nonsense”. On May 15, at the championship celebration, the boss spoke his now famous “Basta!” out, alone: It didn’t help. “FC Bayern is history for Robert,” his advisor Pini Zahavi etched eight days later.
Lewandowski: Kahn’s Basta crumbled
But Bayern initially remained stubborn, insisting on compliance with the contract until 2023. Lewandowski felt compelled to take matters into his own hands – and gave some remarkable interviews. “My story at Bayern is over,” he said on May 30, and: “I hope they don’t stop me just because they can.”
Neither Kahn’s sniffly reaction nor a phone call and later arbitration discussion in Mallorca with sports director Hasan Salihamidzic changed this attitude. Lewandowski was instead seen in Ibiza with Barca manager Xavi. “I really want to train with you,” he is said to have whispered to him when he said goodbye. His wish is now being fulfilled – although he actually always wanted to go to Barca’s rival Real Madrid.
30 million euros, then 32, later another 40 million including ten million in bonuses – Barca had previously been rebuffed several times by Bayern. The “Basta!” von Kahn crumbled very slowly, but now the Munich team could no longer say no. Especially since they urgently needed the money for their own efforts in the transfer market.
