Robert Lewandowski transfer: Barcelona forwards who will stay and leave
Cameron Smith
- 16 Jul 2022 18:13 BST
- 4 min read
Poland international Robert Lewandowski has joined Barcelona this summer, leaving Bayern Munich after eight years spent in Bavaria.
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Lewandowski has become a world-renowned star during his time at the Allianz Arena, but has decided to venture elsewhere despite having one year left on his existing deal at Bayern.
As a result, he has joined Barcelona's ranks, but with the addition of the Pole, some of Barcelona’s current forwards may well leave the club to facilitate his arrival.
Furthermore, Barca have signed Brazilian forward Raphinha for €65 million, and he is expected to play a key role.
Which of Barcelona forwards from last season will stay and which will leave this summer?
Ousmane Dembele - Stay
The Frenchman seemed destined to leave Camp Nou despite an excellent end to the 2021/22 campaign following the expiration of his contract.
Technically, Dembele as also been a summer arrival, after Barcelona signed him on a free transfer under new terms. However, he's essentially stayed at the clun, despite become a free agent for two weeks at the start of July. He will remain at the club in 2024 after signing a new contract at Camp Nou.
His time in Catalunya has been stop-start due to multiple injury problems, and while his performances have been encouraging when he’s been fit, he simply hadn’t been available for selection often enough.
Thirteen La Liga assists last term signalled the quality he does possess, which Xavi will hope benefits Lewandowski.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Stay
Despite Lewandowski’s presence, it seems infeasible to imagine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will leave the club just six months after joining.
The Gabonese striker will certainly suffer upon Lewandowski’s arrival, but a departure doesn’t seem on the cards. Not least because the end of his time at Arsenal may have put off potential buyers.
Prolific during his time on the Spanish cost so far, Aubameyang could be an effective rotation option though the middle and off the left flank.
Ansu Fati - Stay
A La Masia graduate, Ansu Fati is going nowhere. The Spaniard has suffered fitness-related problems of late, but his form on the pitch remains impressive.
Still a teenager, Fati has time on his side to regain his form and become a fixture in this Barcelona side. Staying fit next season will be key, though.
Memphis Depay - Leave
Twelve goals in 28 appearances in his debut La Liga is a more-than-respective tally for Memphis Depay, but he just doesn’t seem to be fancied by Xavi.
Signed on a free transfer from Lyon last summer, the Dutch international could leave the Blaugrana after just one campaign, with Xavi wanting him out the door.
Offering a similar positional skillset to Ferran Torres and Aubameyang, in that he can play wide and through the middle, Memphis seems the most expendable of that trio and given the plethora of options available to Xavi, he may be sacrificed.
Tottenham have previously been linked.
Ferran Torres - Stay
Signed from Manchester City in January, Ferran Torres will not be leaving Barcelona this summer.
Despite the club’s financial woes, they still forked out €65m to bring him to Camp Nou and that investment shows he’ll be kept around.
Four goals and four assists in La Liga during the back-half of the season is a decent amount, but Xavi will be hoping to extract more from the Spaniard next season.
Luuk de Jong - Leave
A short-term fix, Luuk de Jong’s loan move from Sevilla was not made permanent and he has since been sold back to the Eredivisie by his parent club.
A stylistic contrast to both Barcelona and Xavi, the Dutchman was never destined for success at the club, but he has left having contributed well during the 2021/22 season.
Six goals in 21 La Liga games isn’t to be sniffed at, but he didn't do enough to convince the club to sign him on a permanent contract.
Adama Traore - Leave
Just like De Jong, Adama Traore’s loan deal has not be renewed and he won’t be signing on a permanent transfer.
Instead, the winger has returned to parent club Wolves after an underwhelming return to the team. With only four league starts for Barcelona, Traore wasn’t able to fully convince the management team he was worthy of more game time.
Martin Braithwaite - Leave
Although he’s not close to being starting quality, Martin Braithwaite could stay at Barcelona as a rotation option as his contract runs until 2024.
However, Mundo Deportivo have reported that the club wish to offload him as he isn’t in Xavi’s long-term plans.
The 30-year-old’s time at Camp Nou could be coming to an end.
