In times of provocations, bad education, trash talking and other delicacies that adorn the football landscape, this week I had a hopeful revelation that made me regain my faith in the current football species. From Xavi’s words, I knew he was training like he is, a true professional. By his attitude on the pitch, he had detected extreme involvement. But in the short distances – if a scant three meters can be considered – I have discovered the value that Robert Lewandowski brings to Barça.
I wait for her sitting in the audience of a rather full auditorium, expectant. A player with continental stripes, a veteran, will immediately appear, who made a Barcelona project called to grow after hitting rock bottom sportingly and financially. His bet was Barça, quite a lesson for some dressing room mates burdened with the sins of youth who, despite wearing the Masia stamp, are dedicated to making noise and allowing themselves to be loved so that adversity appears. Lewandowski is commitment. And that’s why he complies with the signature and photo protocol and appears on stage. Sponsors the 18th book of Relats solidaris de l’esport. He is the claim on the cover of a charity book that will allocate the proceeds to an entity, the Lovaas Foundation, which works for the training and research of autism spectrum disorder. He listens, despite the fact that the language does not allow him to follow the speech fluently, and even laughs at some joke that I hope with all my heart that he did understand. And, when appropriate, he also talks about autism and the social responsibility he has as a public figure to echo the cause and, as a citizen, to know the reality of people with autism in order to know how to relate to them . Lewandowski is involvement.
Without making a fuss, he takes the turn of questions that he already senses will be about his sports performance. Regarding his physical condition, he takes a deep breath and makes a silence that is difficult for the audience to decipher. So much so that he realizes it himself and clarifies that he has understood the question. He reveals that he played against Girona still very sore from Militão’s blow to the lower back. But he didn’t want to ask for the change, he wanted to try to give what the team expected from him. Lewandowski is demanding. He verbalizes in front of the audience what has been seen for weeks from the stands of the Camp Nou: since the World Cup he is not fine, he is not shining. But put the collective objective above and, if the League falls, the season will be a success. Lewandowski is humility.
I won’t be the one who doesn’t demand the goals for which he was signed. But when I see him walking among a multitude of flashes, books and arms that guide him, I can’t help but think that Barça is very lucky to be able to count on a figure of his dimensions, beyond the goal.
