Barça want to give the number 9 to their new signing Robert Lewandowski
The Spanish club intends for the Polish player to play with the coveted jersey number to establish the team's hierarchy, and for commercial reasons as well
Robert Lewandowski will be one of the leaders of Xavi Hernandez's Barcelona for the next few seasons. The Polish striker has arrived at the Spanish club with the desire to assume and fulfil a big responsibility. He feels ready to make a difference in LaLiga and has already made it clear, in his first statements as a Barça player, that he is not coming to retire, but wants to "help Barça return to the top" and "win as many titles as possible".
After eight years of exemplary performance at Bayern Munich, this Monday at 19h CEST, Lewandowski will be welcomed at the Barça Academy Pro Miami, and it will be a good opportunity to see the Pole in the Barça jersey. Unless there are any surprises, Barça will continue with the policy of presenting their new signings without a bib: the numbers of Kessie, Christensen and Raphinha will not be revealed until the exit operation is accelerated and the squad is more or less defined. The Pole is unlikely to be an exception.
The will of Barça, however, is that Lewandowski wears the 9 of Memphis Depay as a matter of team hierarchy, and also for commercial reasons as well, with the players who sell the most shirts getting the most coveted numbers. It is also why the 10 was offered to Ansu Fati after the departure of Leo Messi, and the 8 to Pedri after the departure of Dani Alves. As such, Lewy, a proven finisher who has accumulated more than 500 goals in the topmost level, has a good chance of taking over the 9.
There are three ways the former Bayern player can get the same number he has worn during his time at the Allianz Arena. The first is an exit from Memphis; the Dutch striker has only one year left on his contract and the sporting management headed by Mateu Alemany is working towards his departure. The second, in the event of Depay staying, will depend on the will of the striker himself. Finally, it cannot be ruled out that Barça will take the initiative and ask Memphis to concede the 9 to Lewandowski, who is more prominent in their plans.
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