“Barcelona appear to be a club with no money but can buy who they want”
“It’s a bit weird, a bit crazy,” Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann told Sky Sports when asked about Lewandowski’s transfer.
45 million euro plus another five possible depending on different objectives were enough for FC Barcelona to secure the services of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. The acquisition of the 34-year-old striker is the fourth new signing for the Catalan club after securing Christensen and Kessié, both as free agents, and the signing of Raphinha from Leeds United for a fee of 58 million euro (plus) last week.
Players who have exited the club this summer include Brazilian midfielder Coutinho who moved to Aston Villa along with the sales of Trincao to Sporting Clube de Portugal and the 2.5 million euro from moving Rey Manaj to Watford. At present the spotlight falls on Frenkie De Jong, with the club looking to conclude the move to Old Trafford and meeting resistance from the Dutch international. Joan Laporta is also hoping to be able to sell striker Memphis Depay for approximately 20 million euro with the forward now seventh in the striking pecking order at the club.
‘No money, big signings’
The FC Barcelona summer outlay on new talent has raised many eyebrows given the delicate financial situation that the Camp Nou side are currently undergoing. Speaking to the media in the United States, Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann was surprised at Barça’s ability to secure new talent given their precarious economic situation: “Barcelona is the only club that has no money but buys all the players it wants. I do not know how. It’s a bit weird, a bit crazy”, added the Bayern Munich coach when asked about the transfer of Lewandowski.