Barcelona's finances remain under heavy scrutiny, but it still went all in for Robert Lewandowski jonawils on the risks attached—both for the club and its new player—amid a nonsensical summer of spending ↓
on a player who turns 34 next month, who had only one year left on his contract and was desperate to leave his previous club.is a brilliant footballer can hardly be doubted. He has scored 312 goals over the past 12 seasons in the Bundesliga. In 78 Champions League games for Bayern Munich, he scored 69 times . He is the model of the modern center forward, as he is mobile, happy dropping deep and attacking from wide and lethal in front of goal. He can head, and he can press.
And he is a young 33. He is clearly supremely fit. His nutritionist wife, famously, has him eat dessert before the main course, which apparently helps the body burn fat more efficiently. As evidence goes, Lewandowski would seem like a pretty convincing case study. Age hits all players eventually—even Ronaldo began to slow in his mid-30s—but Lewandowski should have at least a couple more years at somewhere near his peak. In his eight seasons at Bayern, he missed just 23 games through injury.
But Lewandowski’s quality is hardly the issue. When Joan Laporta succeeded Josep Bartomeu as Barcelona president in 2020, his prime job seemed to be sorting out the finances of the club. Barcelona was blessed with a raft of talented young players—Gavi, Pedri, Ansu Fati, Sergiño Dest, Riqui Puig among them—who it seemed might provide a cost-effective, exciting, largely locally based core that could tide the club over as budgets were trimmed.
Lewandowski does not fit that model. He will have no resale value. He will almost certainly improve Barcelona, but it’s very hard to see how a signing of his heft could be considered a priority given the club’s financial instability.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Barcelona Set to Sign Striker Robert Lewandowski from Bayern MunichBarcelona is set to sign Poland striker Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich after the clubs reached an agreement in principle for his transfer.
Read more »
Reports: Barcelona, Bayern Reach Agreement Over Lewandowski’s TransferBarcelona has reportedly reached a breakthrough with Bayern Munich and has secured the transfer of Robert Lewandowski, with an announcement as soon as this weekend 👀
Read more »
Bayern Munich agree on Lewandowski transfer to Barcelona for $50MThe Polish striker was unhappy with the salary offered by Bayern and had clashed with the Bavarian club's coach Julian Nagelsmann over tactical choices.
Read more »
There won't be enough copper to meet climate goals, study indicatesCopper shortages will be so severe and prices so high in coming years that they risk delaying the global shift away from fossil fuels, according to a study commissioned by S&P Global.
Read more »
Money, Money, Money: Climate Risks Aren't Enough For Most BanksThis article describes the failure for many banks around the globe to identify and move away from investments that incur climate risks.
Read more »
Lightfoot appoints ex-Ald. Michael Scott to Chicago Board of Education weeks after he resigned from City CouncilThe surprise move comes shortly after Mayor Lightfoot appointed Scott's sister to replace him on the City Council.
Read more »