Agent: Lewandowski wants Bayern exit

ROBERT Lewandowski wants to leave Bayern Munich, according to agent Pini Zahavi.

Zahavi told Sport Bild magazine yesterday that the Bundesliga’s top scorer “feels that he needs a change and a new challenge in his career.”

Zahavi, the Israeli agent who helped facilitate Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last year, said Lewandowski’s reasons “are not money or a specific club, as nearly all top clubs would like to have the world’s best striker in their ranks.”

The 29-year-old Poland striker, whose contract with Bayern runs to 2021, wants to leave this offseason, Zahavi said. “Everyone in Bayern’s club leadership has a great career to show for themselves. They should understand his situation,” Zahavi added.

There was no immediate response from Bayern.

Lewandowski has scored 106 goals in 126 Bundesliga games for the club since switching from league rival Borussia Dortmund in 2014. He helped the team win the league each year, chipping in 29 goals this season.

Speaking at Poland’s World Cup training camp in Arlamow, Lewandowski was evasive when asked about Zahavi’s reported comments. “My manager is taking care of that and I want to focus on what should be done during the World Cup,” he said, referring to Zahavi. “This is what managers are for, to take care of such things, so that players can have a free mind.”

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently ruled out a transfer. “We know what we have in Robert Lewandowski. Nobody need worry, he will also play football here in Munich next year,” Rummenigge said.

Lewandowski parted with previous agent Cezary Kucharski in February, when he turned to Zahavi.

Sport Bild reported that Real Madrid’s interest has cooled after Lewandowski’s failure to score in the UEFA Champions League semifinals against the club, but that Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested.