Another touch of Dembele
The Barcelona squad is counting on bringing in Robert Lewandowski for the club’s upcoming United States tour, though Xavi Hernandez remaindered expectations that the Polish striker would not move ahead of his teammates to Miami. The decision to include Lewandowski in the trip has involved conversations about travel logistics and timing, as the team plans to assemble in the U.S. at the earliest possible moment. Lewandowski’s journey has already seen him depart from Mallorca and pass through Madrid on his way toward joining the squad’s training camp. Xavi remains focused on resolving the bureaucratic hurdles that delayed the striker’s departure, aiming to reunite Lewandowski with the group in time for the first set of fixtures and to help the new season begin on the right foot.
With Lewandowski still on the way, the rest of the Barcelona team trained together at the Inter Miami sports city, which will host the club’s first opponent on the tour. The training session gave fans a glimpse of a squad that is eager to blend new talent with the core that has carried Barcelona in recent seasons. Among the visitors to the site was Hristo Stoichkov, a Miami resident who stopped by to see the current group in action and lingered for autographs. Stoichkov offered a guarded but hopeful perspective on the move, noting Lewandowski’s scoring pedigree and his potential impact in the squad. “He is a great signing because Barcelona needs a striker,” Stoichkov commented. “Lewandowski has already found the back of the net against Real Madrid, and it will be interesting to see how the team evolves with him in the lineup.”
Anticipation around Dembele
Looking at the broader picture, the Bulgarian football icon remained confident that Barcelona could contend for the league while anticipating a quick adaptation from Lewandowski. Stoichkov reiterated that while the Polish forward brings elite quality, integrating a new striker into a team with its own rhythm can pose challenges. He suggested Lewandowski might benefit from taking some time to study the club’s style, perhaps revisiting classic footage and reflecting on how the forward position has evolved within Barcelona’s system. The message was clear: Lewandowski’s arrival carries significant potential, but practical adjustments on and off the pitch will guide how swiftly he settles in and contributes to the team’s plans for the season ahead.