Xavi Confirms Lewandowski FC Barcelona Transfer Talks And Which Players Will Leave

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has spoken on Robert Lewandowski’s potential move to the club while confirming which players will leave ahead of next season.

Barca face Villarreal at Camp Nou on Sunday night in what is their last game of the current term, and with the Bundesliga having already finished last weekend, Lewandowski has confirmed to current club Bayern Munich that he wishes to seek pastures new.

Questioned on the approach for the serial goalscorer – who will cost between €30-60mn ($31.7-63.3mn) – in his pre-match press conference, Xavi admitted that it is a “possibility” the Pole can arrive in Catalonia.

“He has said it publicly as well,” Xavi pointed out. “There are negotiations, but it won’t be easy. He still has a one-year contract with Bayern.”

“The economic situation is what it is. We are not in the running for Haaland or Mbappé, but it is what we have inherited. We must not look back, but forward,” the manager also insisted, with the two next generation stars destined for Manchester City and possibly Real Madrid respectively.

Xavi said that president Joan Laporta has given him “confidence” that Barca will be able to make reinforcements.

“We have made a sporting plan, but I do not want to talk about money. I am here to talk about football,” Xavi stressed. “The economic diagnosis is what it is. But let’s talk about football.”

For new players to arrive, however, some must also leave and Xavi confessed to having spoken with “four or five players” that don’t feature in his long-term plans.

“I feel bad for some, but I have to make decisions,” Xavi said, before adding that Riqui Puig, Samuel Umtiti, Oscar Mingueza and Martin Braithwaite are among those he has already sat down with.

As for Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal, Xavi called them “the best team we have faced” in La Liga.

“Tomorrow they play to qualify for the Conference League. We need to show personality and [know] that the fans come to enjoy themselves. There will be many scoring chances and a good show. And of course, [we have to] win,” Xavi finished.