Lewandowski's last dance at the Camp Nou
The Polish forward confirms he is leaving Barça and says goodbye to the fans after four seasons at the Blaugrana club
BarcelonaIt was an open secret that yesterday at noon it was confirmed. Robert Lewandowski announced with a message on Instagram that he is leaving Barça after four years. The Polish forward will say goodbye to the fans in tonight's match at Camp Nou against Betis (9:15 PM, Movistar LaLiga), the last one the Blaugranas play at home this season.
"After four years full of challenges and hard work, it is time to change. I leave with the feeling of having accomplished. Four seasons, three championships. I will never forget the love I have received from the fans since my arrival. Catalonia is my place on earth," published the footballer, who will turn 38 in August and will extend his career away from Barcelona. For now, he has received offers to go to the North American MLS, although he will probably end up playing in Saudi Arabia, where he has received a much more juicy economic proposal.
The image of the Pole, climbing alone at the front of the bus in the Barça celebration parade for the league title, was that of a footballer who knew he was packing his bags and wanted to give himself one last crowd bath with the fans. Age does not forgive and Lewandowski had been losing prominence in Flick's eleven. This season there have been 43 matches, only 25 starts. He has played 2,294 minutes, 52% of the possible and only 18 goals. The previous season there were 52 matches, 47 starts and 3,929 minutes on the pitch, 84% and 42 goals.
Far away is that summer of 2022, the famous summer of the levers, when president Joan Laporta pulled money out of nowhere to avoid financial fair play and sign important footballers. Lewandowski left Bayern and arrived for 50 million, money that at the time seemed like a fortune for a 34-year-old forward but which has ended up being well invested. He has ended up winning three Leagues, one Cup and three Spanish Super Cups; scoring 119 goals in 191 matches, and being left with the thorn in his side of the Champions League that he won in Bavaria but could not repeat in Catalonia.
accepting a secondary role in the squad
Lewandowski's future was up for debate at the club, where they would have looked favorably upon him continuing for one more year if he agreed to a significant salary reduction, accepting a secondary role in the squad, that of the substitute striker. At the beginning of the season, there was already a three-way meeting between the player, the coach, and the sporting secretariat to inform him that he would have more protagonism on the field. But the option of another season, with many games starting on the bench, was appealing to a footballer who believes he has plenty of gas left in the tank in a less competitive league.
The footballer announced to his teammates that he was leaving Barça, yesterday morning, at training. News that surprised no one, because they were already expecting it. Shortly after, Hansi Flick took the floor. “It’s a privilege to work with him. Every day he does his best to be at the highest level,” said the coach, who will gift him a starting spot and a substitution in the second half, to receive the ovation he deserves. “We will miss him, but we will have to find him a replacement,” he took the opportunity to say, sending a message to the board.
The Barça-Betis match is not significant for either team, despite the fact that the blaugranas can achieve the historic record of 19 home wins in the League. But, apart from Lewandowski and the records, the duel will also be special for other footballers, who will most likely experience their last match in a culé shirt at the Camp Nou.
Casadó on standby
This is the case of Marc Casadó, who is not in Hansi Flick's plans and for whom Ça is already looking for an exit this summer. With the unknown of what will happen with Szczesny, who has one more year of contract, it should also be time for goodbyes for Rashford, whose loan is ending. On the other hand, the futures of Cancelo, who could extend his loan; and that of Balde and Kounde, for whom the club will listen to offers, are unknown. Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen, who may reappear after his injury, also ends his contract, although he is studying a possible renewal.