(Getty Images)
After weeks of speculation, Robert Lewandowski has officially made his move to FC Barcelona from Bayern Munich after spending eight years with the club. For a fee of 45 million Euros with an extra 5 million of guaranteed add-ons, the 34-year-old Polish striker is moving on from Munich after his successful Bavarian career.
Legacy in Munich
Lewandowski arrived in Munich from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer back in 2014 and has become one of, if not the best striker in the world. Playing in 375 matches and netting 344 goals and 72 assists in all competitions, Lewandowski has flourished as a product of the Bundesliga’s best.
It isn’t as if Lewandowski is leaving his Bayern career unfinished, the Polish striker departs from Munich after winning every trophy he possibly could. His successes ranged from eight league titles in a row, a UEFA Champions League, FIFA Supercup Winner, three times German Cup Winner, and five times German Super Cup Winner.
On top of his team-based awards, his individual successes grow even further. Lewandowski has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe, The Best FIFA Men’s Player twice, Bundesliga Top Scorer six times and a UEFA Champions League Top Scorer.
(Eurosport)
He has had a ton of memorable moments with the Bavarians from his five goals in nine minutes moment against VfL Wolfsburg in 2015, the sextuple season and golden boot trophy to his monumental record-breaking goal-scoring season to surpass the legendary Gerd Müller with 41 goals to end the 2020/21 campaign.
The 2019/2020 season was undoubtedly his best, winning the sextuple with Bayern, grabbing the top scorer award in the league, Champions League, and DFB Pokal; Lewandowski was arguably robbed of a Ballon d’Or after the award was cancelled due to the pandemic.
In his final season with the Bavarians, Lewandowski ended with the Bundesliga Top Scorer award once again with 35 goals and a final Bundesliga title. His determination and chemistry with many of his teammates will not be forgotten, especially his partnership with Thomas Müller.
Although the last few weeks seem to shadow the legacy Lewandowski has had with Munich, he ultimately brought them to the highest of highs and will always be a legend for Bayern Munich, Danke Lewy.
What can Barcelona expect?
For Barcelona, they now have a proven goalscorer that will play alongside ex-Dortmund teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and other talents such as Ousmane Dembélé, Ferran Torres, Pedri, and a newly formed squad that has been busy this transfer window.
(Football Espana)
Lewandowski, from his time in Munich and internationally with Poland, is a poacher and target man who plays best in a system that feeds him in the box. If it’s a cross, it can be headed in with his height and heading ability. If it’s a pass to his feet, his dribbling and physicality can allow for hold-up play or a powerful finish from all areas.
Overall, he is the best striker in Europe at the moment and at 34, he has a few more years to prove himself with a new challenge. Playing against the likes of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will truly show his test of strength and composure during the high-intensity matches.
What now for Bayern?
For Bayern, although they are losing a pivotal piece of their attack, they are in very good hands, to say the least. While the rumours and discussions were floating around these past weeks, the Bavarians have been busy. First signing Liverpool superstar Sadio Mané to now having talks of potentially signing young French striker Mathys Tel from Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais F.C.
(Bayern Munich)
On top of their new signings like Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch to strengthen other areas of the pitch, their squad remains as dominant as ever. They still have Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, Thomas Müller, and Jamal Musiala as well as having just extended Serge Gnabry on a deal to 2026. That plethora of attack also adds strikers Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and young Dutch talent Joshua Zirkzee who returns from a fantastic spell with R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium.
The departure of Lewandowski will leave a void that cannot be filled by any potential signing or current player but that does not mean hope is lost. Bayern has clearly planned for this moment and will adapt with coach Julian Nagelsmann in his second season where we will certainly see a different style of play from the Bavarians without their Polish star up front.