Lewandowski Backs Rodri as Barcelona's New Midfield Leader
Robert Lewandowski has given his full backing to Barcelona’s decision to hand their midfield to Spanish World Cup winner Rodri, insisting the club could not have chosen a better leader to replace him.
The Polish striker left Camp Nou for Chicago Fire in the summer, taking with him a towering presence in the dressing room and a voice that carried weight under Hansi Flick. Faced with that void, Flick pushed hard for Rodri, seeing the former Man City anchor as the natural heir to the responsibility Lewandowski once shouldered.
Speaking to Radio Marca, Lewandowski laid out exactly why he believes Barça have nailed this signing.
“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,” he said. “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.”
For Lewandowski, Rodri’s value is not just about passing angles or positioning. It’s about reliability when the lights burn brightest, something Barcelona have been desperate to restore in the post-Messi era. The midfielder arrives as a ready-made reference point: tactically sharp, battle-tested, and used to carrying responsibility for club and country.
As he praised his successor, Lewandowski also allowed himself a look back at his own Barcelona chapter. He joined from Bayern Munich in 2022 and, in the space of four seasons, stacked up three La Liga titles and a Pichichi trophy, leaving a clear mark on Spanish football before choosing to move on.
“It was a very special four years for me in Barcelona,” he reflected. “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 Europe’s traditional powerhouses. Chicago, MLS, a different rhythm to life and football. The adjustment, he admits, is not instant.
“It’s normal [to need time], not only because I’m leaving Europe, but also because I’m moving to the United States,” he said, acknowledging the cultural and sporting shift as he settles in with Chicago Fire.
Yet distance has not dulled his connection to Barcelona. The striker, who describes himself as more cold-headed than sentimental, made it clear that his bond with the club and its players remains intact.
“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 concluded. “I’m watching what’s happening now and I’m sure they’re going to win a lot of games.”
Barcelona will be desperate for that prediction to hold. With Rodri now installed at the heart of Flick’s side, the expectation is simple: turn domestic success into a habit again, with a new leader setting the tempo from midfield and an old one watching on from across the Atlantic.
