Will Lewandowski play for Barcelona in Las Vegas Clásico against Real Madrid?

FC Barcelona are reportedly closing in on the signing of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, with a fee of €45 million plus another €5m in add-ons having been agreed between the clubs according to multiple sources. Barça have been tracking the Poland striker all summer after he indicated he was open to a new challenge after eight seasons at the Allianz Arena and the Liga side appear to have made the definitive breakthrough with the Bayern board after initial reluctance on the part of the Bundesliga champions to part company with their star striker.

All that now remains to be seen is how quickly Barça can push the deal through with Xavi’s squad set to depart for their pre-season tour of the USA. Barça play Inter Miami, Real Madrid, Juventus and New York Red Bulls on their friendly jaunt with the first game against David Beckham’s side on 20 July. That will surely be too soon for Lewandowski, even if he is announced during the day on Saturday. The 33-year-old have been back in training with Bayern and is famously fitness-obsessed, coming from a family of professional sportspeople and being married to a karateka and personal trainer.

Real Madrid friendly unlikely for Lewy

As such, the Pole will be ready to go for the relatively laid-back confines of pre-season friendlies as soon as the deal is finalized. In all likelihood, Lewandowski will travel to join up with Barça on their pre-season tour at some stage, but whether that will be in time for the Clásico against Real Madrid in Las Vegas on 24 July remains to be seen.

Assuming Barça are able to push the deal through quickly, Lewandowski will need a couple of days to bid his farewells to Bayern and to undergo a medical and other formalities in Barcelona, before he can fly to the US to join up with Xavi’s squad. He will then need a day or two to find his feet in a new environment and allow Barça’s medical and fitness personnel to run their various tests. Xavi is unlikely to throw his star signing straight into a game, however low-tempo it may be, without at least a few training sessions under his belt, making the Juventus game on 27 July or the match against NY Red Bulls on 30 July a more likely debut opportunity.

Barcelona fans will get their first chance to see Lewandowski - barring any last-minute hitches in the deal - in action during the Trofeo Joan Gamper fixture against UNAM at Camp Nou on 7 August.