BAYERN MUNICH are reportedly considering blocking Robert Lewandowski from playing for Poland against England on March 31.
Under German quarantine regulations Lewandowski would have to isolate for 14-days upon arrival back in Germany after the World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
There is currently a blanket ban on travel to the UK from Germany. And from Wednesday until at least March 28, people have to isolate for two-weeks once they return to Germany.
But the Bavarian giants have no interest in releasing Lewandowski for the game if it means he will miss games for them, according to Polish outlet ONET Sport.
The two-week isolation would see Lewandowski miss Bayern’s Bundesliga matches at RB Leipzig and at home to Union Berlin.
And assuming they progress to the Champions League quarter-final, he would also be unavailable for that.
Munich boss Hansi Flick recently hinted the Polish superstar would be staying put.
He said: “We do not take any risks and we want the players to immediately return to training after their return.
“If a player has to be quarantined, the club has the right to intervene.
“For us, the countdown has already started, from that moment we need all the players.”
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Teams are usually required to release their players for international duty but there are Covid related exceptions currently in place.
Bayern are likely to wait until the very last minute – March 29 – to make a decision, according to Bild.
There is currently a similar issue occurring with South American players playing in the Premier League.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has told players due to fly to Covid ‘red zones’ in the international break they will not be allowed to travel.
Many of City’s squad are due to jet off to play for their countries in just over two weeks’ time.
But the Etihad boss says that any trip that involves a period in quarantine when they return to the UK will be blocked.
Guardiola says it makes ‘no sense’ for clubs to do without the players they pay for what will be a crucial part of the season, echoing the sentiment of Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp.
So City’s South American stars such as Ederson, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero could be told to stay at home – with Fifa fighting to move matches to non-‘red zone’ European nations.
Guardiola said: “We will wait until after this game against United and I am pretty sure that next week we’ll talk about that.
“But I think it makes no sense if the players go to the national team and then have to isolate for ten days when they come back.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard for seven, eight or nine months and after the international break comes the real part of the season.
“And important players – maybe six, seven, eight, nine players – cannot play for ten days?
“It makes no sense – they are not going to fly. That’s for sure.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
