"One thing is certain today: my story with Bayern has come to an end," said the 33-year-old international during a press conference with the Polish selection.

Several outlets are reporting that he wants to join Barcelona in the offseason.

"After everything that has happened over the past few months, I cannot imagine continuing a good cooperation. I fully realize that a transfer will be the best solution for both parties," the double added. best fifa player 2020 and 2021.

The joy of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, congratulated by Benjamin Pavard, after scoring the 5th goal for Bayern Munich against Augsburg, and his 41st of the season in the Bundesliga, on May 22, 2021 at the Allianz Arena, beating the record of Gerd Mueller Christof Stache POOL/AFP/Archives

"I think that Bayern will not retain me just because they have the right to do so," said Robert Lewandowski.

The striker, who scored 344 goals in eight seasons at Bayern, is under contract with the Bavarian club until the summer of 2023, and the German team so far have said they want to keep him, even if it means letting him go in a year without transfer compensation.

Bayern respond

Bayern president Oliver Kahn has slammed his prolific goalscorer's exit.

"I don't know why Robert decided to go this route, such statements in public don't help anyone," he told German sports news site Sport1.

"With us, Robert has twice been crowned Fifa player of the year, I think he should know what Bayern gives him. Esteem doesn't just work one way," said the former German international goalkeeper.

Bayern Munich President Oliver Kahn at the German club's general meeting of shareholders on November 25, 2021 in Munich Christof STACHE AFP / Archives

Two weeks ago, the Polish striker had already made it known that he did not wish to extend his current contract with the Bavarian club.

The only way for the Bavarians to make a financial profit from his departure would be to sell him this summer.

And the words of the Polish striker on Monday risk making cohabitation very difficult from now on.

"I told Hasan (Salihamidzic, sports director of Bayern, editor's note) that if an offer arrives, then it will have to be studied, also in the interest of the club", had already declared the Pole on May 14 on Sky, after the last game of the Bundesliga season at Wolfsburg (2-2).

At Bayern since 2014, Lewandowski notably won the 2020 Champions League and eight German league titles with Munich, in addition to his first two titles won with Dortmund.

He also broke a significant number of goalscoring records, the most publicized of which was the number of goals in a single Bundesliga season.

With 41 goals last season, he knocked down a mark that the Germans thought was eternal: the 40 goals of "Bombardier" Gerd Müller scored in the 1971-72 season.

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski poses with a flag of his country after Bayern Munich's 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon MATTHEW CHILDS POOL / AFP /Archives

In the Champions League, Lewandowski is the third highest scorer of all time, tied with Karim Benzema (86 goals), but far behind the untouchables Cristiano Ronaldo (140 goals) and Lionel Messi (125 goals).

According to some media, FC Barcelona would have made an offer of 32 million euros to recruit him.

Some newspapers in Germany believe that the Pole was irritated by attempts by Bayern to recruit Norwegian prodigy Erling Haaland, who eventually left Dortmund for Manchester City, as centre-forward.

© 2022 AFP