Bavarian bigwigs, Bayern Munich, have been hotly monitoring the transfer market lately and managed to sign themselves three staggering new players; Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund fame, Frankfurt’s Sebastian Rode, and Spanish 21-year-old, Juan Bernat, are set to shake up the team and bring even more fire to the Bundesliga. What will this carve out for genius coach Pep Guardiola and his squad? Will brand-spanking new additions to the flawless, fearless side upset the apple cart and restructure what has always been so magical?
It has long been whispered that Mr Lewandowski might be the new kid on the Bayern block, but with both Super Marios in up-the-field positions, there has not been optimum space. However, after successful talks with Atlético Madrid, the Croatian striking star, Mario Mandžukić, will be hanging up his boots for the German side and jetting off to Spain to try his hand (or rather, feet) in La Liga. Mandžukić is in his late twenties, around an age at which many think players have had their day, yet he shows no sign of slowing down. He has always displayed great potential and flair for the Bavarians, and slotted neatly into Mario Gomez’s prior area following an injury the season before his move to Italy’s Fiorentina. The fresh deal with the Spanish squad is allegedly for 4 years, and Mandžukić will no doubt be a bright prospect and attacking playmaker in the busy, high profile La Liga.
I digress. Robert Lewandowski is a man who has captured a good deal of attention in previous years, as the outstanding yellow-shirted striker for Marco Reus’ side, and Bayern’s bitter rivals, Borussia Dortmund. The Polish twinkle toes has bagged a five year deal with Guardiola’s boys and is bound to be such an incredible asset for the Bundesliga champions. Originally, with the A-list line of attackers that Bayern have gloated about, I was a little sceptical that my favourite German club didn’t really need Lewandowski. However, after Mandžukić departing, I now see that he will be paramount if Bayern want to retain their glorious name in Germany, and around the globe, and bring something new and edgy to the team. If nothing else, he’s bound to stir up a bit of trouble on the pitch when up against ex-club, Dortmund. According to The Independent, the seasoned striker scored a whopping 103 goals in 185 games under Jürgen Klopp’s regime.
Freebie Sebastian Rode is another to pen a 4 year contract, and a young, affluent German who is no doubt hopeful to make the bench, at least, for die Mannschaft in future years and/or tournaments. The player has flaunted a cheery expression about the recent signing and has stated that Bayern is sure to be “the next big step” in the young man’s career (BBC Sport, July 2014). As a German national himself, he will easily adapt and integrate with the many home-grown players, including superb skipper, Philipp Lahm.
Meanwhile, full-back, Bernat, has made the opposite journey to Croatian Mandžukić, after his spell at Valencia where he made over 50 appearances on the pitch. Bayern’s own sporting director, Matthias Sammer, has disclosed that the side have been “watching [Bernat] for a long time” (dailymail.co.uk, July 2014). Bernat has claimed that he is extremely chuffed to play among wonder-goalie, Manuel Neuer, and other Herculean Europeans, including Holland’s Arjen Robben and Les Bleus’ Franck Ribéry. With David Alaba likely to switch positions and echoes of Toni Kroos (really unfortunately, well, from a selfish point of view) perhaps off to Real Madrid, Bernat is bound to be a vital member of new, diverse team that Guardiola is moulding.
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