Which is the richest membership on this planet proper now? It isn’t Actual Madrid or Bayern Munich or Manchester United. It’s Barcelona. Certainly, the Blaugrana are on a shopping for spree of late. Earlier than the switch window even started, they’d signed free brokers Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen.
Furthermore, the Catalans have already signed two extra enormous additions. Raphinha came to visit from Leeds United, earlier than the large fish, Robert Lewandowski landed from Bavaria.
The Polish striker had lengthy been public about his need to hitch Barcelona. Although Bayern Munich relented to start with, the correct of supply lastly persuaded them. There are lots of questions over Lewandowski’s match right into a youthful facet.
Will Memphis Depay be offered? Can Lewandowski proceed acting at his peak powers? How will the attacking choices work round him? FootTheBall analyzes the switch of Lewandowski to Barcelona on quite a lot of parameters.
Robert Lewandowski enjoying type and evaluation
A participant that wants no introduction in entrance of aim. Robert Lewandowski is among the biggest aim scorers of all-time. In truth, he has scored extra targets than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over the previous six seasons.
🤯 Robert Lewandowski has scored 110 targets in 94 league matches during the last three seasons, averaging a aim each 74 minutes in that point pic.twitter.com/bzgDhEtwdu
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 15, 2022
Lewandowski is a superb finisher who can discover the web from all angles. He performs centrally, and may double up as a goal man with wonderful holdup play. Furthermore, Lewandowski isn’t any slouch in organising possibilities for his teammates both.
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Provided that Barcelona could have extraordinarily quick gamers round Lewandowski, there may be a number of optimism. Lewandowski is not going to be anticipated to do a number of defensive work, however that isn’t wanted additionally.
The revolution below Joan Laporta and Xavi is occurring sturdy, as Barcelona certified for the UEFA Champions League. Nonetheless, they should take the subsequent cease in an effort to catch as much as Actual Madrid.
That may take a number of world-class gamers, and Lewandowski is an authorized famous person. He’s additionally adept at headed strikers, and may win aerial duels from set-pieces too. There are a number of inventive methods through which Xavi can now set his staff up.
Grade: A-
Robert Lewandowksi stats
They don’t name him Robert “Purpose-ski” for nothing. 50 targets throughout all competitions in 2021-22. That was preceded by breaking Gerd Muller’s 40-goal Bundesliga report in 2020-21. Put merely, when a staff has Robert Lewandowski, targets are a assure each season.
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Barcelona scored 68 targets in La Liga in 2021-22, the second-highest. The hole between them and Actual Madrid was 12 targets. That’s the type of deficit Lewandowski can cowl up in his sleep.
In line with FBref, he takes 4.34 pictures per 90, amongst the most effective in Europe at 99th percentile. Furthermore, Lewandowksi was concerned in a wholesome 3.13 shot-creating actions per 90.
Although he’s a eager runner, the 33-year-old did full 58.5% of his dribbles, whereas successful 47.3% of aerial battles. Barcelona do should make modifications to the best way they run the offense, however getting Lewandowski is them inserting main religion in successful silverware now.
Grade: A+
Robert Lewandowski switch fee- Worth for cash?
That is the toughest half to justify about the entire deal. €45m+ €5m add-ons is extraordinarily laborious to digest when you think about the previous and way forward for Barcelona. First, the previous. Barcelona have solely simply recovering from their disastrous years below former president Josep Bartomeu.
The Blaugrana ate via money like sweet, which left Lapora one hell of a rebuilding job. Barcelona have been struggling to cowl their yearly wages, which led to membership legend Lionel Messi leaving in 2021.
You solely get to a semi/ultimate of a CL with that type of high quality.
Even when Lewa can provide you two seasons of that, there IS no rebuild. It occurred already. Barca are again and extra elite signings will comply with.
They gained’t give him a profitable 5+ years deal that ruins the funds.
— The Purist (@AllThePurist) July 15, 2022
Senior gamers have been all requested to take a paycut, whereas most signings have been free brokers in January 2022. Even now, Barcelona have needed to mortgage a considerable a part of their future via the “financial levers.”
The Ballon d’Or race is between Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski, so who wins in October?
Although the cash is coming in, the way forward for the membership is extraordinarily unsure within the quick and long-term future. Talking of future, Robert Lewandowski is an computerized starter. However a four-year contract, operating until he’s 37/38? That appears a bit excessive.
Laporta is clearly specializing in countering Madrid and Karim Benzema via Lewandowski’s signing. Nonetheless, all of it may backfire if the staff morale is takes a large hit.
Grade: C
Robert Lewandowski potential match and expectations
The match is one other enormous query mark hanging over Xavi. Who begins and who rests? Barcelona signed Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2022. Ansu Fati is totally match.
The final time Lewandowski and Aubameyang performed collectively;
🕹 Lewandowski – 48 video games – 28 targets
🕹 Aubameyang – 48 video games – 16 targets
They are going to be reuniting in Spain 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/diSbCN87LH
— Francis Hema (@FrancisHemans1) July 15, 2022
Memphis Depay is a central striker for the Netherlands nationwide staff. Granted, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele will struggle it out for the right-sided attacker berth. However that also leaves a number of unanswered questions.
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Will Depay be pleased taking a backseat in a FIFA World Cup yr? The place will Torres play? Will Aubameyang be shifted to the left flank once more? Fati is the quantity 10 and the way forward for the membership, does he accept common appearances off the bench?
Lewandowski’s arrival has launched the cat amongst the pigeons. Little doubt he’ll present a ton of targets, however at what price? Laporta and Xavi have to play this precisely proper in an effort to hold everybody pleased and targeted.
Barcelona can hardly afford to muddle this up, given the sizeable investments they’ve made already.
