Lewandowski Backs Rodri's Move to Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski has given Barcelona’s move for Rodri his full backing, describing the Spain midfielder as exactly the kind of figure the club needed after his own departure.
The Polish striker, now with Chicago Fire, left more than just goals behind at Camp Nou. He left a dressing-room pillar, a reference point for a young squad. Hansi Flick knew it, and pushed hard for Rodri as the man to fill that void.
For Lewandowski, the choice is obvious.
Speaking to Radio Marca, he underlined why the World Cup winner fits Barcelona’s blueprint so neatly, both with and without the ball. Rodri, he said, brings the blend of authority, clarity and calm that defines elite midfielders at the very top level.
“He’s a player who knows what the team needs, how to play going forward, but also how to contribute a little more in defence,” Lewandowski explained. “He's the kind of experienced player I think this team needs. He’s a player who has been performing at the highest level not just at the World Cup, but for many years now.”
It is exactly that profile Flick wanted: someone to organise, to dictate tempo, to guide less experienced teammates through difficult spells. With Barcelona coming off a period of domestic success but still searching for a new long-term spine, Rodri arrives not as a luxury signing but as a cornerstone.
Lewandowski knows what it means to carry that responsibility in Catalonia. His own spell in Spain was short by the standards of club legends, but it was packed with trophies and goals. After joining from Bayern Munich in 2022, he produced a four-season burst that brought three La Liga titles and a Pichichi trophy, restoring some of Barcelona’s domestic authority in the post-Messi era.
“It was a very special four years for me in Barcelona,” he said. “But there comes a time when you have to try something different and take a new step, and I’m very happy now.”
That “new step” has taken him far from the Champions League nights and the European spotlight. Chicago, MLS, a different rhythm, a different football culture. The move is not just a change of club, but a new life.
“It’s normal [to need time], not only because I’m leaving Europe, but also because I’m moving to the United States,” he admitted, aware that adaptation off the pitch will shape what happens on it.
Even from across the Atlantic, though, Lewandowski’s connection to Barcelona remains strong. He speaks of the club less like a former employee and more like a long-distance captain, still invested in the direction of a team he no longer leads.
“I’m not a very emotional person, I’m more cold-hearted, but this is a moment when I’ll always be there to support and help FC Barcelona and my former team-mates,” he said. “I’m watching what’s happening now and I’m sure they’re going to win a lot of games.”
Those wins, if his prediction holds, will have Rodri at their heart. Flick’s Barcelona will be judged on how quickly their marquee midfielder settles, how fast he can turn individual pedigree into collective control.
Lewandowski has handed down his verdict. Now it is over to Rodri to claim that space in the centre of the pitch – and in the hierarchy of the dressing room – that the Polish striker has left behind.
