Barcelona is set to sign Robert Lewandowski from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich for a reported €50 million (£42m/$50m). The debt-ridden club, with Xavi at the helm of things, have been targetting the Polish star since spring. 

The two European clubs have reached an agreement in principle for Lewandowski’s move to Camp Nou, Bayern president Herbert Hainer said Saturday.

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“We have come to a verbal agreement with Barcelona. It’s good to have clarity for all parties,” Hainer said on Bayern’s official Twitter account. “Robert is an incredible player and he won everything with us. We are incredibly grateful to him.”

Lewandowski, who has had a record-breaking stint with Bayern, is expected to bring experience and leadership to Barca along with his lethal goal-scoring instinct. The 33-year-old scored 312 goals in 384 Bundesliga games for Bayern and previous club Borussia Dortmund. He hit 35 goals in 34 appearances last season to become the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for the seventh time overall. Barcelona’s top scorers were Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with 13 goals each last campaign.

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Where does Robert Lewan’goal’ski fit in Barcelona?

Since club talisman Lionel Messi left in 2021, the Blaugrana have been looking for a strong leader to take foward their young side. Barcelona have already signed Raphinha, who will join Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres on the attacking line. 

But the team needs a sure-shot 20/25 goals a season man. And there is where Lewandowski fits. He had a tally of 41 goals in the 2020-21 season, which is the most any player has ever scored in a single Bundesliga campaign. The 33-year-old has not once gone below the 20-goal season mark since the 2013-14 season. 

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Now, one more target on Xavi’s checklist will be the Champions League, which Barca last won in 2015. Lewandowski was Bayer’s leader when the German outfit destroyed the Camp Nou group in the 2020 UCL. 

He is a prover tournament winner with 10 Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, and a Club World Cup with the Bavarian powerhouse against his name. 

Robert Lewandowski will be fed by the likes of gifted midfielders Pedri González and Gavi Páez. He will have the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha and Memphis Depay running by his side.