Barcelona are playing Inter Miami in a pre-season friendly, but the Catalans already have some good news to share. After much negotiation, the Spanish side has completed all processes in the transfer of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. 

The medical is done, the contract signed, and an official video has been released with the 33-year-old in the Barcelona kit. The release clause is set at €500 million. 

Another video from the La Liga side shows the former Bayern Munich forward announcing that he’s very excited to wear the Barcelona jersey, and hopes that he’s looking good. 

The deal between the Catalans and Lewandowski finally went through when Bayern accepted the €45 million fee with €5m in potential add-ons. A personal deal with the Polish national team’s captain has already been in place. 

Also Read | ‘A period of adaption’: Kun Aguero runs the ruler on Erling Haaland’s Man City prospects

Despite Barcelona and Lewandowski both seemingly thrilled at the deal, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann is not too pleased. He told Bild “Barcelona, the only club that has no money but then… buys every player they want”, and added, “I do not know how [they do it]. It‘s kind of weird, kind of crazy”. 

Bayern was the holdout in the Barca-Lewa deal as the Spanish club had approached the player’s agent first. Lewandowski, since then, has been pushing for a move away from the Bavarian side, saying at a later press conference that “Bayern is a serious club and I hope they will not keep me just because they can. A transfer is the best solution for all parties”. 

Also Read | Cancelling Cancer: Five footballers Sebastian Haller can draw inspiration from

Barcelona, coached by Xavi, has been planning to build the team around Lewandowski as the striker. The Polish star’s arrival will add more firepower to the Spanish forward line that includes the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Memphis Depay. 

The club had a slump after Pep Guardiola left the managerial job, but things have turned around since then, and Barcelona will be trying for league and European glory in the coming season.