'I have always wanted to play in La Liga for a big team' - Robert Lewandowski joins Barcelona

Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has stated that it was “easy to decide” when the opportunity to join Barcelona arose this summer. The Poland international is set to complete his move to the Camp Nou in the coming days, after both clubs confirmed that an agreement in principle had been reached over his transfer. Lewandowski is expected to sign a four-year deal with Barca and is seemingly over the moon about this new chapter in his career. 

The words of Robert Lewandowski: pic.twitter.com/nx2UCULhiQ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 18, 2022

“I am very happy to be here. It was very easy to decide to come to Barca,” said the 33-year-old striker in an interview with the club’s website. “Barca is back. I think I can help to put the team back at the top of European football.” He added: “These have been long days. I hope we get off to a winning start- I like winning trophies and this is a new chapter for me, with new challenges. This was an opportunity for me privately. I have always wanted to play in La Liga and for a big team. I’ve already been speaking to Xavi and I know about his ideas. He was a great player and has a great future ahead of him as a coach.

Robert Lewandowski is now a Barcelona player

But the Poland striker didn't want to leave his old club without saying a proper goodbye pic.twitter.com/H1cygvItgj

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) July 18, 2022

On Saturday, Bayern president Herbert Hainer confirmed that the club had a verbal agreement in place with Barcelona for the transfer of Lewandowski to the Spanish club. "We have come to a verbal agreement with Barcelona,” said Hainer in a club statement. “It's good to have clarity for all parties. Robert is an incredible player and he won everything with us. We are incredibly grateful to him." And despite a rather ferocious transfer saga, in which Bayern began by stating that they would never leave the club, CEO Oliver Kahn also confirmed the move by stating what changed the club’s stance on selling their star player. 

"In the end, Barcelona offered a fee that makes selling Lewandowski absolutely sensible for us,” said the former Bayern captain in an interview with Sport-Bild. “In addition, we have been very successful on the transfer market recently and signed an absolutely world-class player for the attack in Sadio Mané." He added: "My job is solely to always achieve the best for Bayern. We were always in the driving seat and always acted from a position of strength. And in the end, we felt it was best to give Robert permission to leave. At FC Bayern, we can live very well with this" 

Lewandowski departs, Gnabry stays put - and signs new contract extension 

However, while Bayern fans may have been disappointed by the news of Lewandowski departing for Barcelona in the coming days, there was plenty of good news for fans of the Munich side. At an event at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, the club not only unveiled new signing Sadio Mané but also confirmed earlier reports that Serge Gnabry had agreed to stay at the club, after signing a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2026. Walking around the pitch with a jersey confirming the news, the Germany international later explained why he had decided to stay put. 

"I thought a lot about what I wanted as a player for the next few years - and came to the conclusion: I want to stay at Bayern, win everything here again, especially Champions League. Celebrating titles, but this time with our fans,” said the forward in an interview with the club website. "It's special because I can play here with my friends at the highest level. I certainly wouldn't experience that at any other club. I want to experience great moments here again - and not somewhere else. The hunger for big titles doesn't go away." 

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