A new striker is on the loose. After several weeks of negotiations with Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona managed to finalize the signing of Robert Lewandowski from the Bavarian giant. With minutes in various pre-season games to date, but still without seeing the door, the Polish striker was presented today with the Barcelona team, where he will have number 9.
Thus, the president Joan Laporta has opened the fire welcoming the scorer: “Robert Lewandowski, welcome to Barcelona. Thank you for the efforts you have made to be here today. Barça is more than a club. It was not easy for him to come. The operation was done because he is a player who wants to come to Barça. Thank you to his representative Pini Zahavi and to Mateu Alemany who negotiated very well with a very important club in Europe”.
After this, it was the turn for the footballer to take the floor: “It has been incredible to see so many fans giving their support for the first time in this stadium. I want to show them as soon as possible what I can do on the pitch. I am very happy”.
????️ ### Then both protagonists have responded to the press
Robert Lewandowski on the challenge of a transfer to FC Barcelona: “Of course it’s a challenge to be one of Barça’s leaders. I want to show everything I can do on the pitch. I want to show that I can help the rest of the players to offer a better performance with my experience”.
Robert Lewandowski on the goals for the signing: “I saw the project and the reaction of Barça and I was encouraged. Everything is going well at the moment. From the beginning of the season we have to show that we are in a good moment”.
Joan Laporta on the choice of number: “The number 9 thing has been a club decision. For reasons that interest the club, for image and advertising reasons. We have considered an appropriate decision and we have made it with all respect for Memphis.”
Joan Laporta on the registration of players: “The number 9 thing has been a club decision. For reasons that interest the club, for image and advertising reasons. We have considered an appropriate decision and we have made it with all respect for Memphis.”
Joan Laporta on economic movements: “The second sale of Barça Studios was approved because we had foreseen it. As a precaution and in anticipation of divergence in some interpretations, we have done it to have the foresight”.
Joan Laporta on the new lever: “The fourth lever we had already planned to do, if it also serves to consolidate registrations better. Barça has entered these two months and operations worth 868 million euros. We have positive own funds, a healthy balance sheet and the income statement as well because we have made profits. We have made a great effort, we have had to carry out operations to sell some assets, always in a controlled manner”.
Praise from Joan Laporta to Robert Lewandowski: “Today there are only words of thanks to Lewandowski for coming to Barça. He will feel rewarded throughout his stay at the club. We have already seen the enthusiasm he has generated. We have great respect for Bayern and for all the clubs in Europe. It has been an operation typical of the football market.”
Robert Lewandowski on his age and fitness: “My age doesn’t matter right now, it’s a number. I don’t feel like I’m 33 years old. Physically I feel very good, I’ve been playing at the highest level for many years. It’s not the question we have to think about. About the signing it hasn’t been easy to leave Bayern because I spent 8 years but for me and my family it was the perfect next step in my life and in my career.
Joan Laporta explains how the signing was managed: “We had the intention of signing a goalscoring center forward and if a genius came and asked us for three wishes, we would have wanted him to be a goalscorer, who had won the Golden Boot several times and was a goal guarantee. And that’s Robert. It happened that his agent, I have a very special personal professional relationship, very nice. He was the one who told him if there was a possibility. And he said yes, that the player would like to play for Barça. We got in touch with Bayern and Mateu has done an extraordinary job. Working as Mateu works, always with efficiency and discretion. When we saw that there was a moment that Bayern was willing to make the transfer, it was a matter of negotiating the amounts. There Mateu moves like a fish in the water, it’s his ability. He also works with Jordi. When an agreement was reached with Bayern we had a series of conversations. Robert and his agent were concerned about whether we could sign him up but I gave them comfort and I conveyed that if we had to enroll one, Robert would be the first. there were other clubs that offered more money and more salary to the player.”
Robert Lewandowski on what Xavi expects of him: “After a few minutes in the first talk I already knew what idea the coach had. When I spoke with him I understood the idea and what he wanted from me. After these conversations I saw that he had a clear idea. I am with him because he is the right person “.
Joan Laporta on what the signing means: “Today all of us culés are excited and proud that a player of Lewandowski’s category wants to come to Barça. This indicates that we are on the right track. I remember my first stage that the players wanted to come. Back then we had many stars and it was easier come, now I value even more all those who have wanted to come. Because of the history, the prestige, the city, the country, the attractive league… having players like Lewandowski is very important for the League. Sadly, a year ago we had to announce an unwanted situation as a result of the economic situation of the club but a year has passed and we can say that we are turning around. Fortunately we can say that we have left the hospital and we are healthier, but it cannot relax us”.
Joan Laporta on the club’s situation: “It has been a very intense year, with many important decisions and withstanding a lot of pressure. We are very satisfied with how what we are working on is going and we continue working so that the club is on the right track and picks up cruising speed”.
Robert Lewandowski on facing Real Madrid: “Of course I want to play and I’m ready to face Madrid. I know how to play against them. I know their last season has been very good but we’re here to beat them”.
Robert Lewandowski on Karim Benzema: “I’m not thinking about Madrid or Benzema. He’s an extraordinary goalscorer, he’s been playing in LaLiga for years but the important thing for me is to play well with Barça, not against him”.
The secret of Robert Lewandowski: “The first thing I do when I wake up is eat breakfast and then I train. I do what I like and after so many years I still have this feeling. I want to improve. I want to do more.”
Robert Lewandowski will talk about his relationship with Bayern: “From my point of view, the relationship with Bayern continues to be good. Mateu has worked with them, there has been respect and our relationship is good and will always be because we respect Bayern.”