Real Madrid Confidencial Lewandowski's message about Xabi Alonso that won't be well received in Barcelona
The Polish forward hasn't held back on praise for his former Bayern teammate and current Real Madrid coach
Robert Lewandowski has sparked debate in the middle of August. The Polish striker, Barça's reference point, has publicly praised Xabi Alonso, current Real Madrid coach. His words have surprised people in the Catalan capital and haven't gone unnoticed among the culé community.
"Xabi Alonso has a brilliant future as a coach. Not only tactically, but also in terms of personality. In the future, he'll be among the best, maybe even the best. He's a man capable of bringing out the best in every player," Lewandowski said in a recent interview.
A compliment that strikes a chord at Barça
One of the heavyweights in the blaugrana locker room didn't hide the admiration he feels for the new coach of the eternal rival. This gesture inevitably makes people uncomfortable in Barcelona, where Hansi Flick is looking to consolidate the project he already started last season.
The Polish player's statements come at a sensitive time. Barça needs financial stability and must keep improving in sports. However, hearing its star striker speak in such terms about the man leading Real Madrid is, at the very least, uncomfortable for the locker room and the culé fanbase.
Lewandowski's words have a clear background. Both he and Alonso shared a locker room at Bayern Munich. It was there that the Polish player was able to see firsthand the leadership skills of the now-white coach.
"He knew how to bring out the best in every player," Lewandowski recalled. It's not just about tactics, but also about charisma and personality. The striker values that ability to motivate and convince, something Xabi already showed in Germany and now aims to bring to the Bernabéu bench.
The future of the benches
The most striking phrase was, without a doubt, the one predicting that Alonso could be "the best coach in the world." This powerful message elevates the Gipuzkoan's profile in his first major adventure at the helm of a European giant.
In Barcelona, people haven't liked these words. The blaugrana club is going through a period of transition with Flick, while the eternal rival strengthens its project with the arrival of one of the great coaching prospects.
Lewandowski, unintentionally, has put the spotlight where it hurts most: the present and immediate future of the two giants of Spanish soccer.
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