They are two of the world’s lethal strikers, and they all ply their trade in the German top division but it is increasingly appearing they could be headed elsewhere in summer. So what does this mean?
The Bundesliga’s attractiveness and competitiveness is in danger when German football can’t find answers to pressing issues.
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and former Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the German national league has to consider changes to face future challenges.
Losing stars such as Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland could decrease the league’s international attention among fans and investors, said Watzke.
“The lack of stars is a great danger for the Bundesliga,” the 62-year-old said. Watzke demanded to take all possible efforts to keep Lewandowski and Haaland in shirts of German clubs.
The official mentioned Bayern’s forward Thomas Muller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer aside from the two leading strikers.
Dortmund’s club boss said fans have changed their attitude. “Many of the younger ones follow their stars to new clubs. It’s not like in the past that they follow one particular club all their life.”
Watzke called the new trend a “social development one can like or not, but it seems a fact and has to be accepted.”
“It’s a fact that most international fans are attracted by these players,” he added.
The Dortmund leader spoke about the English Premier League as the Bundesliga’s strongest competitor.
Borussia can’t fight back when financially well-equipped clubs such as Manchester City join the race for football stars. Rumors talk about offers from Real and the Citizens for Haaland.
It seems a done deal that 21-year-old Haaland is leaving this summer. The Norwegian goal machine can count on an exit clause worth 85 million euros.
Rummenigge said football must reduce financial loads for clubs “as football doesn’t seem ready to adjust its actions to the changes caused by the pandemic.”
Football, in general, will have to pay the price one day if costs can’t be reduced, he stated.
The former Bayern official spoke about dropping income figures of clubs while player salaries and transfer fees keep on rising.
Rummenigge demanded from UEFA to work on new concepts to regulate financing in football. To not spend more than “a club can earn” is the way to follow in his perspective.
European clubs need tools provided by UEFA to handle their finances, the former striker commented.
At the same time, the 67-year-old demanded to change the German 50 plus 1 rule to open doors for new investments.
The rule demands from clubs to keep the majority of shares in their hands; not more than 49.9 percent can’t be sold.
Rummenigge called the rule a gigantic disadvantage. “We have to consider how long we can afford to rely on tradition and neglect the club’s international competitiveness.”
Activities on the transfer market increasingly decide the outcome of international competitions, the 1974 world champion said.
“Regarding that point, the Bundesliga can’t compete with the Premier League,” Rummenigge said, the current dominance of English clubs can’t be in the interest of a fair competition the clubs and UEFA are looking for.