Lewandowski Supports Rodri as Barcelona's New Midfield Leader

Robert Lewandowski has thrown his full support behind Barcelona’s decision to hand the keys of their midfield to Spanish World Cup winner Rodri, insisting the club could not have found a better leader to fill the void he left behind.

The Polish striker’s move from Camp Nou to Chicago Fire stripped Hansi Flick’s dressing room of one of its loudest and most influential voices. Flick, aware of the gap, went straight for a player he trusts to carry that weight. Rodri, fresh from his Manchester City era and global triumphs with Spain, arrived as the man chosen to steady and steer a new-look Barça.

Lewandowski, speaking to Radio Marca from his new life in the United States, made it clear why he believes the Catalans have got this one right.

“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, underlining the balance Rodri brings. “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.”

That blend of tactical intelligence, calm under pressure and relentless consistency is exactly what Flick wanted to inject into a squad still finding its identity after several years of upheaval. For Lewandowski, it’s also exactly what a young core around Rodri needs if Barcelona are to turn domestic promise into something more sustained.

The conversation inevitably drifted back to his own Barcelona chapter. Lewandowski arrived from Bayern Munich in 2022 and wasted no time leaving his mark. Across four seasons, he stacked up three La Liga titles and a Pichichi trophy, leading the line as Barça clawed their way back to the summit of Spanish football.

“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 the European spotlight. Swapping Camp Nou for Chicago is more than just a change of shirt; it is a different rhythm of football, a different culture, a different life.

“It’s normal [to need time], not only because I’m leaving Europe, but also because I’m moving to the United States,” he admitted, acknowledging the adjustment period as he settles into MLS and the demands of the Chicago Fire project.

Yet distance has not dulled his connection to Barcelona. The striker, known for his icy focus on the pitch, spoke with a hint of warmth when the subject turned to his former club and team-mates.

“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 said. “I’m watching what’s happening now and I’m sure they’re going to win a lot of games.”

That confidence now rests heavily on Rodri’s shoulders. With the midfielder expected to anchor Flick’s system, set the tempo and guide a younger generation through tight league nights and high-pressure Champions League ties, Barcelona are betting that leadership in the middle of the pitch can replace the leadership they lost up front.

If Lewandowski’s prediction holds, the sight of Rodri dictating games in blaugrana could quickly become the new reference point of Flick’s era in Catalonia.