Barcelona will miss Robert Lewandowski when he's gone

"Above all else, Lewandowski is a professional. His instincts and abilities on the field were never in doubt, but equally important were the day to day habits, and the intelligence he had to make the right career moves at the right time. That's what explains the longevity, something so many great footballers struggle to achieve."

"It was a brave decision to join Barcelona in 2022, at a time when the club was on the downswing. Lewandowski, however, never harbored any doubts. He knew his time at Bayern Munich had run its course, and he saw something in Xavi as a manager that things could turn around at the Camp Nou. He wanted to be a part of that project."

"Four years later, Barcelona are back among the elite in Europe, and for that, Lewandowski deserves a lot of thanks and appreciation. Just by coming to Barcelona at the time when he did was a signal to the world not to write off the mighty Blaugrana so quickly. Frankly, it was an injection of confidence into the players and figures who were at the club."

"He was also a role model in the dressing room. He wasn't the captain, but he was someone the many young players could look up to. Lewandowski is a man of high character because he was always accountable to himself as a player, and to his team. Coaches need players like that around who can help them manage behaviors and cultivate a winning culture."

Lewandowski’s career longevity is attributed to professionalism, including day-to-day habits and intelligent decisions about when to make career moves. He joined Barcelona in 2022 when the club was declining, believing his Bayern Munich time had ended and seeing potential in Xavi’s management to turn things around. Over four seasons, Barcelona returned to elite status in Europe and won La Liga in his first season. He scored over 100 goals for the club, providing consistent attacking output even as his role evolved. He also served as a role model in the dressing room, holding himself accountable and helping cultivate a winning culture alongside coaches and younger players.

Read at Barca Blaugranes