What is he trying to tell us?
Barça coach Xavi (42) commented on the rumors about Robert Lewandowski (33) changing one day before the Europa League second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt. Short and sweet – but definitely suspicious!
“I understand the question, but this is not the time. It’s the time to focus on tomorrow’s game and not on signings. He’s a great player. I can’t say more than that,” said Xavi. From Barça’s point of view, is the time just not yet ripe to talk publicly about a possible Lewandowski commitment?
The Polish television station “TVP” caused a stir with a report on Monday. It said that Bayern boss Oliver Kahn should already be informed about Lewandowski’s desire to move to Barça this summer. According to BILD information, there is nothing to it.
Kahn then denied this before Bayern’s Champions League defeat against Villarreal on Amazon Prime: “Apparently there is a competition out there, who brings the biggest nonsense story about Robert Lewandowski. I just said that we definitely have another season for Robert Lewandowski. We’re not crazy and we’re not discussing a transfer from a player who scores 30 to 40 goals with us every season. I don’t think that can be.”
However, the Bayern boss suddenly caused confusion again at the end of the interview. As moderator Sebastian Hellmann summarizes: “I don’t think the news that Robert Lewandowski is staying is so bad” – Kahn looks at the floor, smiles and says: “That was suggestive.” What Kahn means: Lewandowski’s contract runs until 2023 However, Bayern would not want to let the striker go on a free transfer if they could not agree on a contract extension beforehand.
So is Lewandowski’s whereabouts not certain in the summer – and does that mean Xavi will still come into play with Barça?
