Posted: 23:45, July 19, 2022 | Updated: 01:14, 20 July 2022
Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has set his sights on Barcelona after confirming Robert Lewandowski’s move to the cash-strapped Spanish giants.
Lewandowski, 33, was confirmed as a Barcelona player on Tuesday afternoon after weeks of speculation.
It was thought for some time that there was no chance of Barcelona being able to secure a deal for the Poland striker, with the club said to be in debt in excess of the £1bn mark.
Julian Nagelsmann took a parting photo suggesting Barcelona were treated differently
Barcelona confirmed the deal on Tuesday afternoon with a series of pictures of the Polish forward
As it is, however, Barcelona managed to get their man and as a result Nagelsmann questioned how the club were still able to plunge into the market given the current financial situation.
“They are the only club in the world that has no money but then buys all the players they want. I don’t know how they do it. It’s a little weird, a little crazy,” he said when asked about the transfer.
Barcelona’s financial situation reached such a stage earlier this summer that they were unable to sign Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen, two players who had signed on free transfers from AC Milan and Chelsea respectively.
Bayern Munich boss appeared unhappy Barcelona were able to sign striker
The Pole took part in his first Barcelona training session after announcing his move
The club are currently bound by La Liga regulations which state the club can only spend £1m for every £4m they offload.
It was thought Barcelona needed to offload players this summer before bringing in anyone. Such speculation has led to constant rumors surrounding the futures of Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele, the latter of whom is yet to sign a new contract with the Club.
De Jong has been the subject of long-term interest from Manchester United, with the club having made several bids for the player. A deal has stalled recently with De Jong said to want to stay at Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s pain has eased slightly with the confirmation of Matthijs de Ligt’s £68million move from Italian giants Juventus.
Matthijs de Ligt (L) has spoken of his delight at being able to sign for Bayern Munich from Juventus
The Dutch defender joins the German giants on a five-year deal until 2027, with the club having finally secured a player they had hoped to sign since 2019.
Speaking after the signing was confirmed, De Ligt told Bayern Munich’s website: “I am very happy to become a player for this great club. FC Bayern is the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and the world.
“I felt the real appreciation from the sports administration, the coach and the board from the beginning, which convinced me.”
