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With the news of Robert Lewandowski finally putting an end to speculation and signing a contract with Bayern Munich confirmed, it is quite clear that the German Bundesliga, once lauded for its competitiveness, is rapidly becoming the exclusive property of Bayern Munich.
However, it is not a new thing for players winning Bundesliga titles with other sides, join the Bavarians. Lewandowski is now part of a long list of players who left title winning teams for Munich and is now reunited with former Borussia Dortmund teammate Mario Gotze.
In the past, the likes of Mario Gomez, Michael Ballack, Hamit Altintop, Giovanni Elber and Manuel Neuer, not to mention Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose left their respective sides that offered strong competition in the Bundesliga, joined Bayern Munich and went on to win a lot of titles with them.
Due to this very reason, the re-emergence of Borussia Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp was like a breath of fresh air for people who feared their beloved league becoming a one team chase for the title. Klopp was a thinker, an innovator and most importantly, a strong head not willing to bow down to the Bavarians and refused to be bullied by the pro-German press that always planted the idea of buying the best players BVB had and bring them to the Allianz Arena.
However, with the passage of time, it became really hard for them to hold on to their top performers starting with Mario Gotze, a product of their own youth academy. The manner in which Munich signed the German is still viewed as a ploy to ruin BVB’s Champions League final match up with their rivals. That was however, just a start as Bayern started making advances to Lewandowski.
The Pole, given a chance to become part of Pep Guardiola’s revolution, chose not to extend his contract and itched for a move this summer. To Klopp’s credit, he refused to give in and rejected Munich’s attempts. However, Lewandowski chose to bide his time, let his contract expire and even before that, agreed personal terms with the league champions and will be joining them in the summer of 2014 which could be the final nail in the coffin for BVB and also for the competitiveness of the league.
In the summer of 2013, BVB spent big only because of the money they earned from Gotze’s sale. This time around, strengthening the side might not be that easy thanks to Lewandowski’s Bosman move.
With the way Bayern Munich are assembling their squad, it is quite clear that BVB let alone any other club in Germany has any hopes of competing the Bavarian giants for a long time.
Barring an internal collapse, it is very likely to see Bayern Munich dominate German football for years to come and might give more credence to their president, Uli Hoeness’s fear of “Spanish situation” developing in Germany.
Sure Bayern Munich will now become a force to be reckoned with in Europe but the way this all devouring mow of the ocean has conducted its business is not a boon to the good of German football and could have repercussions in years to come.
