Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hints at contract extension for Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski

Former Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hinted that Robert Lewandowski could also be in line for a new deal at some point in the near future.

There has been an underlying air of anticipation that Bayern is monitoring Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland to be Lewandowski’s long term successor at the club. However, speaking on Bild TV (via Abendzeitung) after Bayern’s 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League, Rummenigge said Bayern would love for the Polish ace to stay longer than 2023. “With Lewandowski you have the best center forward in the world. Haaland is the second best. I think Bayern is interested in Robert staying after his contract expires in 2023,” Rummenigge said.

It goes without saying that there would be a bevy of clubs interested in signing Lewandowski in 2023 if a new Bayern deal isn’t agreed upon by then. Lewandowski previously flirted with the idea of looking for a challenge abroad, at Real Madrid in particular, but the landscape of La Liga has drastically changed since there were heavily links to Los Blancos a few seasons ago. He’ll now certainly have former teammate David Alaba whispering in his ear if rumors start to circulate once again.

Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

When his current contract expires, Lewandowski will be closing in on 35 years of age, but he’s clearly shown that, for him, age is just a number. Aside from his remarkable scoring records, few strikers in the world also boast the same kind of fitness history as Lewandowski. While he was fortunate to have the coronavirus pause to recover from a knee injury in the 2019/20, treble-winning season, he is rarely injured for considerable spells on the sideline. Even at 33 years of age, he’s one of the fittest footballers in the world.

Potential buyers in 2023 would definitely have to consider his age, but if Bayern can manage to get a new deal tied down beforehand, it would mean they will be keeping him for what would likely be his last spell at an elite club.