FC Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has confirmed that the Catalan giants are interested to sign Polish striker Robert Lewandowski ahead of next season.
The player has himself confirmed that he wants a new challenge and thus wants to leave Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich with Barca being touted as favourites to land the Polish superstar. And Xavi has confirmed that there has been contact between the player and the La Liga club but warned the signing won’t be easy.
“It is a possibility that he could come, yes. He has said it publicly as well. There are negotiations, but it won’t be easy, he has a one-year contract with Bayern.”
Xavi said at a press conference on Saturday.
The gaffer was then asked whether Barca are out of the running to sign Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland because of the club’s finances. To this coach replied,
“That’s right. The economic situation is what it is. We are not in the bidding of Haaland or Mbappe, but it is what we have inherited. We must not look back, but forward.”
Barca’s chances of signing the 33-year-old striker are slim given their financial troubles. La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that the Catalans cannot afford to sign him, saying Barca will first need to raise a lot of money before they can work out a deal.
The Poland international’s contract at the Allianz Arena expires in the summer of 2023 and the player confirmed last week that he will not renew his deal. Lewandowski scored his 35th goal in the Bundesliga this campaign after netting in the 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg this weekend.
Since joining Bayern in 2014, the 2020 and 2021 winner of FIFA’s best male player award has won eight Bundesliga trophies while also lifting the Champions League once in 2020.
He has netted 344 goals in 374 games for Bayern since his arrival in Munich and is the club’s second-highest scorer of all time behind Gerd Muller.
This year, the former Borussia Dortmund player ended up scoring 50 goals from 46 appearances across all competitions, and again will be a top contender to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
