Robert Lewandowski wants to join FC Barcelona to prove he is “better” than Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema.
This is what has been claimed by the Pole’s former agent Cezary Kucharski to SER in Spain, less than 24 hours after it was reported that Bayern Munich are now prepared to negotiate Lewandowski’s sale with the Blaugrana.
Lewandowski and Benzema are generational rivals widely considered the best strikers of the modern age. This year, they could challenge Paris Saint Germain star Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or and have been in the running for soccer’s highest individual accolade in recent editions.
A change of scenery and proving himself in another league have been tipped as the main motivations behind a switch to Spain for Lewandowski, yet according to Kucharski there are more specific and personal reasons for forcing a move to the Catalans ahead of the 2022/2023 season.
“He wants to show that he is better than Benzema, it is another reason to go to Barca,” began Kucharski.
“Lewandowski has no dreams. For him, playing football is a job and he is very professional. Real Madrid and Barca are at the same level,” added Kucharski, while also showing optimism that the potential transfer will be realized this summer.
“Barca and Lewandowski are going to fight for this signing,” Kucharski went on.
“I think he is going to sign for Barcelona, I see it as possible. He has to put pressure on Bayern to release him from his contract. Bayern’s leaders know he wants to go to Spain. His plan was Germany, then Spain and [then] finish his career in the United States,” Kucharski concluded.
On Sunday, it was reported by Sky in Europe that Bayern have finally decided to honor Lewandowski’s wishes and negotiate his exit with Barca.
The Bavarians’ starting price is said to be €60mn ($64mn), which president Joan Laporta and his board will undoubtedly contest given their financial predicament of debts circling $1.5bn plus the facts that Lewandowski is already 33 and has just 12 months left to run on his current contract.
Other transfer targets for Xavi Hernandez’s men include Leeds United winger Raphinha and Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2022/06/27/robert-lewandowski-wants-to-join-fc-barcelona-to-prove-he-is-better-than-benzema/