Barcelona have offered Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski the 'Lionel Messi role' at the Camp Nou amid their efforts to sign the striker.
Lewandowski has reportedly told the Bundesliga giants that he 'won't sign a new deal' as he has already lined up a new club as Polish television channel TVP Sport claim Barca are in the driving seat to secure the player’s signature. The 33-year-old striker was on target in Bayern's Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal but the strike was not enough to save them from a shock elimination.
Earlier this week, Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn poured cold water on the suggestions that the Poland international would be leaving the club as he comes closer to entering the final 12 months of his contract. That prompted Barca boss Xavi to address the transfer rumours directly about the forward has scored a remarkable 47 goals so far this term and has surpassed the 40-goal landmark in seven successive seasons.
Lewandowski is out of contract in Munich in the summer of 2023 and if no agreement is struck in advance of next year, he will be free to negotiate with other clubs from 1 January 2023. A report in Diario Sport has now outlined that Barca are telling the player that he will inherit the leadership role that had been vacated by Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou – both in terms of being the main attacking player but also holding leading status in the dressing room.
Bayern CEO Kahn also offered an update on Lewandowski’s situation this weekend amid the rumours gathering momentum: “Currently we’re in contact with him, we are talking, we want him to stay for as long as possible,” Kahn explained. When the former German international goalkeeper was asked why the renewal was taking such a long time, Kahn explained that a deal of this dimension “requires time”.
He added “It’s not a game. We have to consider our economic conditions. The top players sometimes think about trying other things and it takes a while to convince them.” Asked if Lewandowski is not happy at Bayern, Kahn added: “Tell me if there’s a player who is not happy and has scored 30 to 40 goals a season.”
As things stand, contract talks are a standstill between Lewandowski and Bayern but the club will look to reopen the discussions in the weeks and months to come. If no agreement can be reached between the player and the club, then he will be free to speak to other clubs from 1 January 2023 and sign a pre-contract agreement away from Bayern.
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The forward has spent the majority of his career in Germany having made his name at Borussia Dortmund before leaving on a free to join Bayern in 2014. Whilst at the Allianz Arena Lewandowski has won the Bundesliga every season and also claimed the Champions League in 2020.
No player has a Champions League record as impressive as Lewandowski. The Poland international had won a competition record 22 consecutive matches in which he had featured for Bayern, prior to the Round of 16 first-leg draw away to Salzburg. While last week’s loss in the first leg of their clash against Villarreal was his first defeat in 25 games in the competition. Despite him bagging 13 goals in this season’s competition – Bayern could not do enough to advance to the last four.
