Bayern Munich should bring Robert Lewandowski back from FC Barcelona

Why Lewy should say yes

Lewandowski’s time at the top level in Europe is coming to a close. He has struggled this season for Barcelona, and was even benched in the second leg vs Atlético Madrid for Ferran Torres. That may not seem like a big deal, but it tells the world that when Hansi Flick needed goals against a Simeone team, Lewy was not the man for the job. Moving to Bayern Munich at this stage would give him a few more years at the top level, challenging for more titles and possibly the Champions League again. He would also return to a country and a club he is familiar with, which would make the transition easier rather than heading to Juventus or following Thomas Müller to MLS. Now, FC Bayern may have to sweeten the deal by offering a potential two-year contract instead of one, but a player of Lewandowski’s caliber seems worth it.

Potential pitfalls

Age is the main concern, as Lewandowski has noticeably slowed down this season. He could probably benefit from a backup role, playing fewer minutes to preserve his diminished legs, but it might not be enough. Would he still be able to play the demanding role of a striker at his age? Another wrinkle is the potential transfer of Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle United forward has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer, and he can play across the forward line. It’s likely that Bayern are planning to make him the striker backup next season. If Gordon does arrive, then Bayern Munich would not need to sign Lewandowski. But it would still be a good idea to have a dedicated striker backup regardless. Finally, Lewandowski may not be ready to accept a backup role at this stage. Barça still want to keep him, so they may meet his wage demands, making him too expensive for FC Bayern to compete. That would mean any potential transfer falls through.

Conclusion

There are no current links between Bayern Munich and Robert Lewandowski. This article was just a thought experiment, proposing a hypothetical that probably will never come true. Still, it’s interesting to think about. How would this current version of Lewandowski fare in the current Bayern attack? How would he share a dressing room with Harry Kane? How would Vincent Kompany handle a complicated player like him? For now, focus remains on the Champions League semi-finals against PSG. However, come the summer, this may be a topic worth revisiting.