Lewandowski Confirms He Wants to Leave Bayern Munich this Summer

Robert Lewandowski netted his 35th Bundesliga goal of the season for Bayern Munich on Saturday RONNY HARTMANN AFP

Asharq Al Awsat

08:03-15 May 2022 AD ـ 15 Shawwal 1443 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

08:03-15 May 2022 AD ـ 15 Shawwal 1443 AH

Lewandowski Confirms He Wants to Leave Bayern Munich this Summer

Robert Lewandowski netted his 35th Bundesliga goal of the season for Bayern Munich on Saturday RONNY HARTMANN AFP

Robert Lewandowski confirmed Saturday that he wants to leave Bayern Munich this summer amid reports Barcelona are ready to offer the 33-year-old star striker a three-year contract.

Lewandowki banged in his 35th league goal this campaign in a 2-2 draw at Wolfsburg on the last weekend of the Bundesliga season, then dropped a bombshell, said AFP.

"It could well be my last game for Bayern. I can't say 100 percent, but it could be. We have to find the best solution for the club and me," he told streaming service Viaplay.

Lewandowski confirmed to Sky that he has told Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic he will not extend his contract, which expires in 2023 and "that when an offer comes, we have to think about it".

"I have a year left, but we have to find the best solution for both sides," the Polish striker added.

The back-to-back winner of FIFA's best male player award has won every title available since joining Bayern in 2014, including eight Bundesliga trophies for a total of ten having won two with ex-club Dortmund. He also lifted the Champions League in 2020.

In Wolfsburg, Lewandowski scored a crisp header from a Thomas Mueller after defender Josip Stanisic gave Bayern an early lead.

Wolfsburg clawed their way back as Danish forward Jonas Wind scored, then veteran striker Max Kruse levelled for the hosts.

Elswhere, Erling Haaland signed off his final appearance for second-placed Borussia Dortmund in a 2-1 home win over Hertha Berlin.

The Norwegian star is set to complete a long-awaited move to Manchester City for next season.

Haaland equalized from the penalty spot in the second half to cancel out Ishak Belfodil's early goal for Hertha at Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund's 17-year-old striker Youssoufa Moukoko came off the bench and grabbed the winner, just seconds after replacing Axel Witsel.

Haaland applauded home fans after the final whistle while Dortmund also said goodbye to sports director Michael Zorc.

The defeat pushed Hertha into 16th, which means a two-legged relegation play-off against the team which finishes third in the second division, currently Hamburg.

"The boys are totally exhausted and worked up," said Hertha sports director Fredi Bobic.

"They must now have the belief to pull it together in these two games."

- Endo rescues Stuttgart -
There were dramatic scenes in Stuttgart where Japan midfielder Wataru Endo scored a stoppage-time winner to seal a 2-1 win over Cologne.

The win saw Stuttgart claw their way to 15th and guaranteed survival next season.

Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic made amends for having a first-half penalty saved by heading in the resulting corner 26 seconds later.

Cologne equalized when veteran French striker Anthony Modeste headed in his 20th goal of the season until Endo struck.

Stuttgart fans stormed the pitch at the final whistle to kick off the celebrations.

"It feels good, but I have a sore head from all the shouting and celebrating," said head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

"It was a great moment. I'm so happy for the boys. You never forget a moment like today."

Cologne finish seventh to qualify for the Europa Conference League.

Union Berlin will play in the Europa League next season after finishing fifth after Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi netted twice to seal a 3-2 win.

Union raced into a 2-0 lead as Grischa Proemel gave the hosts an early lead before Awoniyi converted a penalty.

Bochum roared back as Simon Zoller headed in a goal, then Eduard Loewen levelled before Awoniyi grabbed a late winner.

Freiburg finished sixth and punched their Europa League ticket despite losing 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen, whose Argentinian defender Exequiel Palacios scored the winner seven minutes into stoppage time.

Arminia Bielefeld joined Greuther Fuerth in being relegated from Germany's top flight despite a 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig, who finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League.

Germany midfielder Jonas Hofmann scored twice as Borussia Moenchengladbach thrashed Hoffenheim 5-1.

Brazil defender Tutu and Colombia striker Rafael Borre hit the net as Eintracht Frankfurt tuned up for Wednesday's Europa League final against Rangers with a 2-2 draw at Mainz.

German Great Muller Isn’t Ready to Retire, Signs Extension with Vancouver Whitecaps

Thomas Muller #13 of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC takes a shot on goal while being defended against by Andre Dozzell #21 and Kye Rowles #15 of DC United during the second half of MLS action at BC Place on September 26, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP)

07:57-30 September 2026 AD ـ 19 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

German Great Muller Isn’t Ready to Retire, Signs Extension with Vancouver Whitecaps

Thomas Muller is not ready to retire.

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced Tuesday that the club has signed the German soccer great to a contract extension through Major League Soccer’s 2027 “sprint season.”

The sprint season is set to run from February through May 2027 before the league switches to the international summer-to-spring calendar in July 2027.

“So far it’s a hell of a ride. It’s really fun to be with this team, to be with these people and to be with the club,” Muller said in a video released by the Whitecaps. “And my body is still good.

“I just feel that it’s so much fun to be out on the pitch, week in and week out. Every match day is a good day for me. And we want to achieve our goals.”

Reaching the extension required the 37-year-old Muller to evaluate how his body was feeling and whether he could physically handle another season, Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster said.

“He’s smart enough to say, ‘I don’t want to be on the pitch one day, and people say, ‘You should have stopped,’'" Schuster said. “He doesn’t need that. He had his massive career. He could have retired before he came to Vancouver, and he can retire at any given end of a season, and everyone will be happy. And he doesn’t want to play then over that time.”

Muller signed with Vancouver in August 2025 following 17 seasons with Bayern Munich, where he scored 250 goals across all competitions.

The midfielder has continued to be a dominant force in MLS, tallying 16 goals and 11 assists over 29 regular-season games.

He has made 45 appearances across all competitions for the Whitecaps, contributing 19 goals and 12 assists in the process, and was named an MLS All-Star this summer.

Before joining the Whitecaps, Muller led Bayern to 13 league championships and 33 total titles.

He also won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, scoring five goals in the tournament, and took home the Golden Boot from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, finishing with five goals and three assists.

Muller said he isn’t done yet.

“I really appreciate to be here, hunting titles with this team, especially the MLS Cup,” he said. “And the journey continues. But that doesn’t mean that we kind of take it easy this year. But we have another bullet.”

With Muller in its ranks, the club won the MLS Western Conference title last season and made it to its first MLS Cup final, falling 3-1 to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Vancouver has hovered around the top of the league standings this season, and currently holds first place in the Western Conference with a 15-6-5 record.

Sports

Spain Brush Aside Croatia in Nations League, England Down Czechs

Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A3 - Spain v Croatia - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - September 29, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)

07:09-30 September 2026 AD ـ 19 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Spain Brush Aside Croatia in Nations League, England Down Czechs

Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A3 - Spain v Croatia - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - September 29, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)

Lamine Yamal netted a brace as world champions Spain continued their winning start to the UEFA Nations League with a 4-1 success in Seville against Croatia on Tuesday, while Harry Kane scored as England won in the Czech Republic.

The match at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan was Spain's first home outing since lifting the World Cup in New York in July.

La Roja captain Rodri was handed the trophy by 2010 winner and Sevilla legend Jesus Navas, before presenting it to the ecstatic crowd.

"We were very excited to bring the trophy here," Yamal said.

"To be able to win the game and bring it home is great."

Spain's supporters did not have long to wait before their side provided further excitement in Andalusia as Yamal fired them into the lead inside 75 seconds.

Dion Beljo nodded in Ivan Perisic's cross to briefly level the scores shortly before the half-hour, but Atletico defender Marc Pubill popped up at the other end three minutes later to head in a Yamal center and restore the hosts' lead.

After also scoring early in Spain's 3-2 win at Wembley against England last week to kickstart their Nations League campaign, Yamal brought his tally in the 2026/27 edition of the tournament to three as he put Spain two clear of Croatia in the 63rd minute with a precise finish at Dominik Livakovic's near post.

"Lamine is keen to keep developing and show the world the sort of footballer he is," Luis de la Fuente said of the 19-year-old star.

"We've enjoyed his magic in the service of the team. In the future, he'll be much more recognized for what he does and for his contribution to the team's play," the coach added of Yamal, who is among the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or.

Nico Williams then put gloss on the result for Spain with a crisp step-over and finish with one minute remaining on the clock.

With two wins from two, Spain lead Group A3 on six points, while Croatia sit third on three points, behind second-placed England on goal difference.

Harry Kane (L) of England celebrates with teammate Anthony Gordon after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Nations League match between Czechia and England in Prague, Czechia, 29 September 2026. (EPA)

- 'Deserved victory' -

In Prague, Thomas Tuchel's England got their first win of the group with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Czech Republic thanks to second-half goals from Anthony Gordon and Kane.

The home team kept England at bay in the first half at the Fortuna Arena despite being a man down after Pavel Sulc was sent off for a high challenge on Elliot Anderson in the 23rd minute.

"We played very professional, second half we stepped up... Deserved victory," Tuchel told ITV.

"Strange to get an early red card, not the best for the team and spectators. It's an awkward one but we kept going, got a win and that's what counts."

Barcelona winger Gordon broke the deadlock shortly after the break with a header from a cross served by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made his first England start in almost two years.

It was Gordon's third goal in three games for England, including one against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final defeat and another against Spain.

Kane, who also scored against Spain, gave England breathing space in the 69th minute, smashing the ball past Czech 'keeper Matej Kovar after it fell to him inside the box.

England will travel to Rijeka to take on Croatia on Saturday, while Spain welcome the Czechs to Oviedo.

"The next match is important for us against a direct opponent and we want to win," Tuchel said to the BBC.

Elsewhere, Scotland paid for an early red card at Hampden Park against Switzerland as the visitors ran out 3-0 winners in Group B1.

Slovenia sit second in that pool after downing North Macedonia 2-0 in Ljubljana.

Sports

Man City Guilty of Using ‘Sham’ Deals to Distort Finances, Premier League Says

Champions League branding at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Feyenoord in Manchester, Britain, 26 November 2024. (EPA)

23:24-29 September 2026 AD ـ 18 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Man City Guilty of Using ‘Sham’ Deals to Distort Finances, Premier League Says

Champions League branding at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Feyenoord in Manchester, Britain, 26 November 2024. (EPA)

Manchester City used "sham" commercial contracts as part of schemes to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million over nearly a decade, the Premier League said on Tuesday after an independent commission ruled the club guilty of serious breaches of financial rules.

The commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the league's financial rules over nine seasons, between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 campaigns, as well as three of four charges concerning their failure to cooperate with the investigation.

The club, which denies wrongdoing, said in a statement it would appeal "on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe".

No sanction has yet been imposed, leaving unresolved the potential consequences for a club that has dominated English football over the past decade.

A significant punishment could affect past and future title races, European qualification and the distribution of tens of millions of pounds in prize money. The case has also raised wider questions about financial governance, competitive integrity and the Premier League's ability to hold its most powerful clubs to account.

'SHAM CONTRACTS'

An independent commission found that City arranged “sham” contracts that misrepresented the true agreements with several commercial partners and ‌relied on similar ‌agreements with others to inflate their revenue and reduce costs artificially, the league said.

It found that several ‌sponsors were ⁠required to pay ⁠only part of the fees recorded in the relevant agreements, with the balance supplied by the club's owner Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG).

The commission also identified arrangements funded by ADUG that allowed City to record lower operating expenses.

The schemes inflated City’s revenue and reduced their costs, creating the appearance that the club complied with financial regulations, the league said.

The report also found that a number of the club's witnesses presented false evidence at the hearing, which ran for 42 days, and some knowingly misled the commission.

The commission concluded that City would have breached both the Premier League’s and UEFA's spending limits “by a very substantial amount” had the agreements been reported accurately.

“The core decision... details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade," said Richard Masters, the chief executive of ⁠the Premier League.

Masters described the case and decision as “the most significant in Premier League history” but said key ‌elements remained unresolved, most notably the sanction to be imposed.

"Now we have the Commission’s decision, we ‌are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans,” he said.

CITY TO APPEAL

City said they were ‌disappointed and surprised by the commission's opinion.

"The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable ‌evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case," the club said.

"Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."

The club has until Friday to lodge an appeal. When asked by Reuters whether an appeal by City would automatically suspend any sanction, a league representative said they could not "get into the process" due to confidentiality.

'A SINGLE FALSE ACCUSATION'

City chief ‌executive Ferran Soriano addressed staff in a video in which he rejected the allegations and accused the commission of supporting the league's "conspiracy theory".

"The whole Premier League case against us is based on a single false ⁠accusation, that the owner's personal money was ⁠somehow and secretly put into the club via some sponsors from" abroad, Soriano said.

"This is just not true. Irrefutable evidence has been provided to the Premier League commission that shows it could not happen and that it did not happen."

The announcement came near the end of the European Football Clubs general assembly in Copenhagen, leaving representatives of English clubs checking their phones during the closing minutes.

Representatives of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest declined to comment when approached. A Manchester United representative also declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

EFC Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi reserved judgment on the case and praised Soriano's work as an EFC board member.

"His knowledge, you know, throughout his career is fantastic. That’s why I think they did a lot of positive things also," Al-Khelaifi said.

'LET ROUND TWO BEGIN'

British sports minister Lisa Nandy said the league's report was "incredibly stark" and called for a swift and fair conclusion to the case.

"This is not only causing a lot of concern for Manchester City fans. It's also obviously causing a lot of concern for all fans of Premier League football," she told the BBC.

"Premier League is one of our crown jewels. We need to see the investigation concluded swiftly and fairly, but swiftly particularly because we need to uphold the integrity of the game."

Yasin Patel, a barrister specializing in sports law at London's Church Court Chambers, said he expected City to fight "with all their legal might."

"Round one was to the Premier League, let round two begin," he added.

Lewandowski Confirms He Wants to Leave Bayern Munich this Summer

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