Robert Lewandowski is adamant that Barcelona won’t be afraid of Real Madrid next season if Kylian Mbappe joins them on a free transfer.
♦ Mbappe is on the verge of joining Real
♦ Lewandowski unfazed by the transfer
♦ Provided clarity on his future with Barcelona
WHAT HAPPENED?
Mbappe, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30, is set to join the Spanish giants on a free transfer. However, Lewandowski remains confident that Barcelona will not be intimidated by an Mbappe-led Real and has emphasised the importance of teamwork and preparedness to capitalize on any early-season slip-ups by their rivals in 2024-25.
WHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID
When asked about the potential threat posed by a Real Madrid team featuring Mbappe, Lewandowski told Marca: “It’s not official yet, but it seems that all roads lead to Real Madrid. Fear? No, of course, he is an incredible player and if he goes to Real Madrid, it will be a very strong team. But our mentality has to be that no matter how good players you have if we are a team and work together, we can beat you.
“We have to be ready from the first game and the first minutes because Real Madrid will surely need time. They will not play well at the beginning and lose points, and we have to take advantage of it. Not to catch them but to be ahead of them. Like two seasons ago, in which there were games that we couldn’t win but that we didn’t lose.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Lewandowski’s current contract includes a significant wage increase for the 2024-25 campaign, which would see his earnings rise to €30 million (£26m/$32m). However, Barcelona are expected to negotiate with Lewandowski’s agent to adjust this hike, considering the club’s financial constraints and the player’s age. Hence there have been rumours about a potential transfer away from Camp Nou, which the Polish striker has strongly refuted.
“There are many rumours about many things, there are all kinds of them,” he added. “My mind is only on getting started and being ready with Barcelona next season, on taking a step forward in our game. It’s what I can say and what’s in my head.”
WHAT NEXT?
While Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid is set to shake up the Spanish football landscape, Lewandowski believes that with the right preparation and teamwork, Barcelona can not only compete but also outperform their arch-rivals. However, it remains to be seen if the Blaugrana can match their striker’s expectations after an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign that saw them surrender their Spanish crown to the capital club.