Ex-Bayern striker
Disgrace averted at the last moment: Lewandowski is about to make his league debut for Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski (here celebrating a goal with teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang) can be happy. The Pole is allowed to play for his new club FC Barcelona at the start of the league.
© Joan Monfort/AP/DPA
The great embarrassment has probably been averted. Until recently, it looked like ex-Bayern star Robert Lewandowski was not even allowed to play for his new club FC Barcelona. Barça averted this super meltdown in good time before the start of the league.
After the nail-biter over his playing license, world footballer Robert Lewandowski is about to make his league debut at FC Barcelona. In the evening (9 p.m.) the Catalans welcome Rayo Vallecano from Madrid with the Polish striker and the German national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen in the first league game of the new season. With another balance sheet trick to comply with financial fair play rules, Barça were able to get their new stars eligible to play at the last moment.
“We want to compete with everyone and achieve everything. The goal is to win titles,” said Barça coach Xavi Hernández, without going into the quarrels. The coach was enthusiastic about his new striker, former Bayern star Lewandowski. “He’s a goalscorer and an exceptional player. He’s hungry, humble and with that desire to work,” Xavi praised the Poles.
Robert Lewandowski: shortly before being banned
The much-praised ex-Bayern star was on the verge of not being allowed to play for his new employer after his much-discussed move. It was only on Friday evening that the Catalans received league play permits not only for Lewandowski, but also for the other newcomers, ex-Gladbacher Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie and Raphinha after another deal worth millions at the last moment. This also applied to Ousmane Dembélé and Sergi Roberto, whose contracts had been renewed. Only newcomer Jules Koundé, who came from FC Sevilla, has not yet been registered.
The newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that before this could happen, the salary of the millions had to be reduced. The deadline for registering players in La Liga is August 31st. Barça had announced the previous evening that the club had sold 24.5 percent of the shares in Barça Studios to Orpheus Media for 100 million euros in the fourth campaign of this kind in order to comply with the financial rules to some extent. Spanish media commented on the trick, saying that while the league had to comply with the rules of fair play, it also had no interest in superstars ending up in the stands.