(Reuters) – Barcelona’s new striker Robert Lewandowski said he felt fitter now at 33 than he did nearly five years ago and that he hoped to help the team with his technical skills and experience.
The Poland striker, who scored 344 goals for Bayern in 375 matches, joined Barca in a deal worth 45 million euros ($45.80 million) last month and was presented to thousands of fans at Campo Nou stadium in his number nine jersey on Friday.
Lewandowski, who will turn 34 this month, said age did not matter to him as he looks ahead to a fresh challenge.
“It is only a number and physically I don’t feel like I’m 33, nearly 34, because I know I can still play a few years at top level or even longer,” Lewandowski told reporters.
“I feel better even than when I was a 29-year-old. It’s not the question we have to think about.”
Lewandowski and Bayern bosses criticised each other over the way they handled the transfer, with the player saying there had been lot of “politics” from the side of the club who were “trying to find an argument” to sell him.
“If we’re talking about that period, for sure, it wasn’t easy for me to decide to leave Bayern after eight years, but I know for me and my family it was the perfect next step in my life and my career,” he said.
Lewandowski won almost every domestic and international club title with Bayern, including eight league crowns, three German Cups, the Champions League and Club World Cup among others.
The Bundesliga’s second highest all-time scorer behind the late Gerd Mueller said that he would use his experience to guide Barca’s young players.
“This mix of young players and experienced players is important,” Lewandowski said.
“If I can help them with some words, not only technical skills on the pitch, but sometimes more with words I can tell them and explain because I’ve seen a lot in my life in football.”
($1 = 0.9826 euros)
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
