Robert Lewandowski has opened up on an unofficial meeting with Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez in Ibiza this summer in which he was convinced to move to the Camp Nou.
The Poland international’s transfer to the Blaugrana was confirmed on Saturday with the striker departing Bayern Munich in a deal which El Pais insists has a total value of €60million (£51m). Bayern were said to be delighted at the fee they obtained for the striker, who will celebrate his 34 th birthday next month.
Lewandowski has now revealed that he held a “chance” meeting with Barca boss Xavi in Ibiza earlier this summer when both were coincidentally spending time on the Spanish island. The striker claims that the coach gave him a sales pitch which helped persuade him to move to the Camp Nou this year.
Speaking to German media outlet Bild, Lewandowski explained: "Xavi has a plan for Barca to return to the top. I met him in Ibiza by chance, but we had a good chemistry right away and he told me: I will wait for you, we will work well together and we can win many titles."
Lewandowski has played a crucial role as Bayern have embarrassed Barcelona multiple times on the European stage in recent years; the German champions humiliated Barca 8-2 in the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2020 and twice beat them 3-0 in the group stages of last season’s competition – seeing the Blaugrana tumble into the Europa League.
The striker insisted that he could help play a role in transforming the club’s fortunes: "Barca had problems last season, but now the club has incredible potential. Now they have made great signings and the club is on the right path to getting back to the top. My goal is to win titles with Barca."
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The Poland international’s exit from Bayern after eight years may have come as a surprise to some, but he was into the final year of his contract at the Bavarian club. Earlier this summer, Lewandowski said that he hoped the German champions "don't keep me just because they can" before reiterating "my era at Bayern is over."
He added in his latest interview over the rushed nature of the move that "there was no time for a farewell, everything had to happen quickly and spontaneously. I said to the team: 'Guys, thank you very much for everything, we made history together and I'll never forget it.'"
He did concede that this summer had been “difficult” for him and he added: "It was not easy to find the right words. a lot was going on in my head and I tried to stay relaxed, enjoying the vacations with my family. My age and my experience certainly helped me."
