Robert Lewandowski's change of agent fuels fresh Real Madrid rumours

Polish forward has split with his agent of 10 years and linked up with Pini Zhavi, who has close links to Madrid

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski has often been linked with a potential move to Real Madrid. John MacDougall / AFP

Bayern Munich's top-scoring striker Robert Lewandowski is again at the centre of Real Madrid rumours after connecting with the agent who helped fix Neymar's record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

Lewandowski, who has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season, has split with Cezary Kucharski, his Polish agent of 10 years, and linked up with Pini Zhavi.

The 74-year-old agent is a major figure behind the scenes in international football and has close links with Madrid. He helped broker last year's deal which took Brazil star Neymar to PSG from Barcelona for €222 million.

Lewandowski, 29, has a Bayern contract until 2021. He also works with German agent Maik Barthel, who helped organise his move to Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in 2014 on a free transfer.

However, Lewandowski, the Bundesliga's top-scorer this season with 20 league goals, has repeatedly denied rumours linking him to Madrid. The Poland forward will set a Bundesliga record if he scores in his 13th straight league game on Saturday at home to Hertha Berlin.

He struck twice on Tuesday when Bayern thrashed Besiktas 5-0 in Munich in the last 16, first-leg, of the Uefa Champions League. On Friday, Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes said Lewandowski's change in agent is not significant.

"A player is allowed to change his agent, it doesn't mean anything," Heynckes said in Munich. "Bayern wants to - and will - keep our top players."

But the German media is suspicious of the switch and daily newspaper Bild claim Lewandowski is already talking to Madrid.

Zahavi denied he is brokering a deal between the player and the Spanish giants - for now. "Of course I have a lot of contacts in the industry, but that has nothing to do with it. However, one never knows what will happen in the future," Zahavi told Bild.

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