Robert Lewandowski has already linked up with Chicago Fire following the expiration of his contract at FC Barcelona. For the veteran Polish striker, remaining in Europe was never a consideration unless it meant extending his stay in Catalonia. He reaffirmed this stance during his official presentation, where he appeared alongside head coach Gregg Berhalter.

"It is a historic day for Chicago. I want to thank Robert for choosing us. He has netted over 700 goals in Europe's top divisions. This is a monumental signing for us; we are thrilled to welcome him. He is not just an elite footballer; he is a fantastic person," the Chicago manager noted before 'Lewy' took the floor.

"I am delighted to be here; I see the potential to secure more silverware. This is a fresh chapter in my life and I hope to enjoy it. Alongside the staff and my teammates, we will be in a strong position to achieve great things this season," the striker began.

As Lewandowski noted, he only entertained a change of continent once his time at the Camp Nou drew to a close: "My time at Barcelona reached its end, and after that, I did not want to continue in Europe. I couldn't imagine playing for any other European club besides Barca. Relocating is never easy, but we are very excited. It is a brand-new experience."

The 37-year-old also shed light on his decision-making process regarding MLS: "Over the last few months, I spoke with former teammates who knew the club and the league, such as Muller and Schweinsteiger. We wanted to be fully prepared for this move. Regarding the league and the standard of play, everyone I consulted told me it was a magnificent place to live, for my family as well."

Upon his arrival, he lightened the mood with a joke about his first few hours as a Chicago Fire player. "We have talked about how the team communicates and how they play 'soccer'... which, by the way, is football, not 'soccer'," the Pole quipped with a laugh. He added that he expects to adapt quickly to his new manager: "It won't be a problem for me. Throughout my career, I have worked under many different coaches; tactics are not an issue. The priority is winning matches."

Lewandowski is eager to "help everyone at the club" and offer a "perspective based on experience" to help the Illinois side grow. He feels ready to contribute to the second half of the campaign following the World Cup: "I am ready after my holidays. I will need a little time to adapt because I have been training individually, which isn't the same as being with the group. I only arrived from Poland yesterday after a long journey."

R. Lewandowski

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