FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski revealed that he and his teammates are not “afraid” of Kylian Mbappe if the Frenchman joins Real Madrid, and also spoke on where he’ll play next season in an interview with Meczyki in his homeland.
The Athletic and several other outlets reported that Mbappe has informed Paris Saint-Germain he’ll run his contract down and not renew with them before its expiry on June 30.
This leaves the 25-year-old able to sign for his next club on a free transfer, which is widely expected to be Real Madrid after two false dawns in 2017 and 2022.
Joining Los Blancos would immediately thrust Mbappe into one of club football’s biggest rivalries between the team from the Spanish capital and Lewandowski’s Barca side.
And while many outfits might get in a flap about having to face the next generation superstar on a regular basis, Lewandowski can only see positives.
“It’s not official yet and it’s hard to comment until the announcement is made. So let’s wait for it to be confirmed,” the veteran said to Meczyki.
“If he comes, it’s going to be fun to compete against him in LaLiga. We’re not afraid, I take it positively,” Lewandowski added.
Bought from Bayern Munich in 2022, Lewandowski still has just over two years left to run on his contract in Catalonia.
Amid suffering a difficult second season under Xavi Hernandez, there are rumors he might head to the Middle East or elsewhere around the same time Mbappe should be landing in Spain.
Lewandowski is clear on where he’ll playing next term, however. “I’m staying in Barcelona,” he clearly stated, explaining that he knows “the mechanisms of the Spanish press”, who “are what they are” when it comes to linking players to exits whenever bumps in the road occur.
“I don’t want to repeat myself anymore,” Lewandowski stressed. “One day one thing comes out and the next another. I’m staying in Barcelona.”
Vitor Roque is the youngster that could succeed him in the 9 role at the Montjuic Stadium, after being brought in from Athletico Paranaense at the turn of the year.
Lewandowski said that he has been mentoring the Brazilian, but also 17-year-old centre back Pau Cubarsi.
“I give him advice, [and] I push him so that he is ready to face other strikers. We talk a lot, whether it’s on the pitch or in the dressing room.
“Young people want to learn and improve fast. Cubarsi plays for Barca at the age of 17 and in training he does things that take others years to do.
“But he can get better and he’s going to have to overcome other challenges,” Lewandowski warned.
