Barcelona legend advises club to ‘start thinking about a replacement’ for veteran superstar | OneFootball

While the world has its eyes on the ongoing Euro 2024 and Copa America tournaments, FC Barcelona are busy drafting up the ideal plan for the summer.

The club’s uncertain finances leave the board unclear on multiple fronts, right from their spending limit to the potential return to the 1:1 signing rule.

Hansi Flick will begin pre-season with the team in early July and the goal will be to have the squad sorted out by that point. Needless to say, there are several critical decisions to make and not much time.

Speaking to the media recently, Barcelona legend Rivaldo gave his two cents on how the Catalans must approach the coming summer, especially with a new manager arriving at the club.

He began by insisting that Robert Lewandowski was at the end of his cycle and urged the Blaugrana to start looking for newer faces in the department.

“Barcelona must start thinking about a replacement. A team like this has to have the best in the world playing with them. And that also means keeping an eye on the best players on the market in all positions, including that of the centre striker,” he began.

“Lewandowski is a global crack, it is so, but we sometimes know that age and injuries can take their toll,” he added, justifying his claim.

Lewandowski will soon turn 36 years old. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Further elaborating on the club’s centre-forward situation, the Brazilian legend rolled out his ideal plan towards managing Lewandowski’s minutes.

“I hope that now Lewandowski can rest, that he recovers to be back in Barça’s pre-season. He can still have good years of football,” the Brazil legend added.

“Let’s remember that he has been named even the best player in the world and that he has a beautiful football history behind him. I just hope that age doesn’t take its toll.”

The attention then shifted to Lamine Yamal, for whom Rivaldo could only sing praises. Speaking on the teenage Spanish phenom, he said,

“I can only congratulate him. That way of playing and personality is incredible! It is very difficult to find in soccer a player who has that character, who plays with that joy.”

“And he does everything with a lot of tranquility, as if he had a lot of experience. He has a great future and will bring a lot of joy to the fans of FC Barcelona and the national team,” he added on Yamal’s maturity.

Finally, Rivaldo was quizzed on Barcelona’s possible transfer targets for the summer and he advocated for Athletic Club’s dynamic winger Nico Williams as his top pick, saying:

“He [Williams] would be a great signing. Barça should pay attention to him during this European Championship and, depending on his performance, perhaps later they will have more competition to sign him. But it would seem like a great option to me.”

Source: SPORT