Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to make an an audacious move to sign Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer following confirmation he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season.
The Poland striker, who turns 38 in August, was widely expected to be on the move with his contract expiring.
He has helped Barcelona win three Spanish league titles, including this campaign, and one Copa del Rey since joining from Bayern Munich in 2022.
But despite his impressive haul of 119 goals in 191 appearances for the club, Lewandowski lost the status of being the undisputed first-choice striker for coach Hansi Flick this season.
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‘After four years full of challenges and hard work, it’s time to move on. I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete,’ Lewandowski, who has scored 119 goals for Barcelona in all competitions, posted on Instagram on Saturday.
‘I will never forget the love I received from the fans from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on Earth. Thank you to everyone I met along the way during these beautiful four years.”
Lewandowski, who has suffered several injuries over the last year, started in only 15 of his 29 LaLiga appearances this season, scoring 13 times.
He made a late appearance as Barca beat Real Madrid 2-0 to win LaLiga last weekend, but his goal in Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Osasuna this month had set them up to clinch the title with a Clasico victory.
Despite his advancing years and declining fitness, Ferdinand believes the veteran striker would be a perfect fit at the Theatre of Dreams where he could act as the perfect role model for Benjamin Sesko.
‘What a guy, what a player!’ said Ferdinand on X. ‘Experienced option next season in UCL & help with development of Sesko?’
Barcelona are already reported to have lined up Chelsea’s Joao Pedro as a potential replacement but Ferdinand’s former West Ham and England teammate, Joe Cole, believes Lewandowski could be the right man to add the experience and nous the Blues’ forward line is currently lacking.
‘We need experience, someone to come in and support the young players,’ Cole exclusively told Metro when asked for his dream signings this summer.
‘I would be looking at Lewandoski. If his contract is up at Barcelona, get him in for a year.
‘That could work, someone to come in and help the young players. He is a big name, has that stature and would be a huge presence in the dressing room. I think he could really help Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
‘John Stones as well maybe if City let his contract expire. He is another who could be an big presence in the dressing room, to help and nurture the great young centre-halves we have at Chelsea. He might not be able to play 50 or 60 games anymore but will improve players around him.’