The agent of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed that the Poland international wants to fulfil a lifelong "dream" by signing for Barcelona.
The 33-year-old's future has been the subject of much debate over the past few months, with his existing contract at the Allianz Arena due to expire in 2023.
Reported talks over a new deal have not led to a compromise, and Lewandowski recently confirmed that he would not be putting pen to paper on an extension with the German champions.
Bayern could therefore lose the former Borussia Dortmund man for nothing in under 18 months' time, especially with Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic insisting that he will not be sold this summer.
Barcelona are thought to be at the head of the queue for Lewandowski's signature and have supposedly tabled an opening bid of €32m (£27m) to try to test Bayern's resolve.
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The forward is represented by Pini Zahavi, and the 78-year-old has insisted that his client is pining for a move to Catalonia in the upcoming window after being left 'disrespected' by Bayern.
Speaking to Bild, Zahavi said: "For Robert Lewandowski, FC Bayern is history. Robert wants to leave FC Bayern after eight years in which he gave the club everything.
"Now, at almost 34, he has the opportunity to fulfill a lifetime dream and join the club he always dreamed of. Why is FC Bayern denying him this opportunity?
"For Robert, the matter is very clear: he wants to leave FC Bayern this summer. Nobody cares about money here, neither Robert nor me. He hasn't felt respected by the people in charge for months, that's the truth. FC Bayern didn't lose the player Lewandowski, but the person Robert."
Zahavi further claimed that the Bundesliga winners had never come forward with a proposal to extend Lewandowski's contract, adding: "No, there was no such offer.
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"I'll tell you an anecdote from the past year. I came for a meeting with (CEO) Oliver Kahn, (sporting director) Hasan Salihamidzic and (technical director) Marco Neppe to Munich. I told them, 'What do you think about a contract extension with Robert?' The answer: silence. No yes, no no, no maybe, just nothing.
"I said towards the end of the meeting, 'If it is so, then sell him next summer'. Their answer was: 'We actually don't want to sell, but if you bring us an offer over €120m (£100m), we could talk' — it was the amount that [Erling Braut] Haaland would've cost, including all commissions."
Lewandowski ended the 2021-22 season with 50 goals and seven assists to his name from 46 appearances in all competitions - taking his total for the club to 344 goals and 72 assists in 374 games across an eight-year spell.
Should Barcelona pull off a deal for the Pole, Xavi is reportedly keen to have the striker at the forefront of an attacking trio with Ansu Fati and Raphinha from the 2022-23 season onwards.
However, Chelsea have been tipped to rival Barcelona for the signature of Lewandowski, with manager Thomas Tuchel recently hinting that his side would be in the market for new strikers in the summer window.
Ben Knapton
