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Barcelona unveil Robert Lewandowski

Phenomenal
Phenomenal

Mueez Ajao

– Barcelona announced the signing of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich on Tuesday, becoming the LaLiga club’s fifth arrival this summer.

– The 33-year-old was presented by the club on Wednesday alongside club president Joan Laporta the day after Barcelona’s 6-0 win over MLS club Inter Miami in a friendly that kicks off their tour of the United States.

– “I’m very happy to be here,” Lewandowski said at the presentation. “It was hard work to join Barcelona, but in the end I’m here. I know we have work to do, we have huge potential in the team, huge quality. I’m ready to be a part of this big club with an amazing history and make new history, with titles as well. I’m very happy.”

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Lewandowski joins Barca from Bayern

– “In the next training session I’ll be on the pitch with the team and I’m ready to play in the next game [against Real Madrid]. Everything that happened in the last few days was amazing, it happened fast but that’s football. You have to be ready for everything.”

– Lewandowski will sign a four-year contract with a release clause set at €500 million, Barcelona said in a statement. He had 12 months remaining on his Bayern contract and moved to Barcelona for €45m with a possible €5m in add-ons, the 26-time Spanish champions confirmed.

– The Poland international has twice won the Golden Boot as Europe’s leading goalscorer and finished as runner-up for the 2021 Ballon d’Or. He joins Pablo Torre, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen and Raphinha as additions as Barcelona look to build a squad to compete for LaLiga and the Champions League under coach Xavi Hernandez.

– He was one of the club’s top targets this summer and helped push through the move as he sought a new challenge after eight glittering years at Bayern Munich.

– Reported last month that Barca had made a series of bids — the latest worth over €40 million — for Lewandowski, who had just a year left on his contract, but were unable to convince Bayern until progress was finally made in talks.

– Lewandowski will join a Barca attack that already includes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and fellow summer signing Raphinha.

– He began his career in Poland, winning a league title with Lech Poznan. He joined Borussia Dortmund in 2010 and became one of Europe’s most highly-rated forwards as he won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund and reached the Champions League final before joining Bayern on a free transfer in 2014.

– At Bayern, Lewandowski scored 344 goals in 375 appearances, placing him second on their all-time scorers list behind Gerd Muller.

– He won the Bundesliga in all eight seasons at the club, as well as the Champions League in 2020, and was named Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2020 and 2021.

– Laporta introduced the Polish striker to the media by thanking him for joining Barcelona, and the sporting management for making the deal happen.

– “Thank you and welcome to Barcelona,” Laporta began in Polish.

– “This man has made extraordinary efforts to come here again.

– “It has not been easy and we are very proud that you wanted to play for us.

– “We need you, you are a star and we have great expectations.

– “We want to make the team more and more competitive and we are progressing very well.

– “I want to thank the sporting management for their work, they have made the signing possible.

– “We are putting Barcelona back on the world stage.”

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