Barcelona’s Controversial Request and Lewandowski’s Future: A Complex Narrative

In his book “Lewandowski. Prawdziwy” (“Lewandowski. The Real One”), author Sebastian Staszewski claims that FC Barcelona requested Robert Lewandowski to cease scoring goals. With two matches remaining in the season and Barcelona already declared champions under then-manager Xavi Hernandez, this request reportedly emerged during a peculiar meeting.

Staszewski details that Lewandowski was called in for discussions with several high-ranking executives shortly after Barcelona mathematically secured the title. At this point, he led the league’s scoring chart with an impressive 23 goals, significantly ahead of his rivals. It was during this meeting that a board member allegedly stated, “Robert, we need you to stop scoring goals in the last two matches.”

Surprised by such an unusual request, Lewandowski had never encountered a club asking him to hold back during his extensive career. The rationale behind this request was financial rather than tactical. Barcelona, still grappling with considerable financial constraints, faced a clause stipulating that if Lewandowski hit 25 league goals, they would owe Bayern Munich an additional €2.5 million in performance-related bonuses tied to his transfer. With the league title secured and their budget stretched thin, the club reportedly opted for this unconventional and ethically questionable approach to safeguard their financial standing. Lewandowski participated in both remaining matches but did not score, ultimately securing the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga’s top scorer, finishing ahead of Karim Benzema.

In related developments, Italian outlet Calciomercato has reported that AC Milan plans to make a fresh and serious bid for the 37-year-old forward next summer. The Rossoneri have identified Lewandowski as a priority target for June, believing that his addition could accelerate their ambitious rebuilding efforts under Massimiliano Allegri. Initial discussions have already taken place between Milan’s sporting director Igli Tare and Lewandowski’s prominent agent, Pini Zahavi. Future meetings are expected to address salary concerns, as Lewandowski currently earns approximately €20 million net per season at Barcelona—nearly three times the salary of Milan’s highest-paid player, Rafael Leao. While matching this figure is financially unfeasible for Milan, they hope Lewandowski’s priorities may align more closely with competitive football and project stability.

Meanwhile, Barcelona appears to be transitioning towards a new attacking era. The club is actively assessing long-term replacements, with names such as Dusan Vlahovic, Julian Alvarez, and Levante’s promising talent Karl Etta Eyong emerging in recruitment conversations.

Despite the ongoing transfer speculation surrounding his age and potential future role, Lewandowski continues to showcase his value on the pitch. Even in a season where his starting role has not been guaranteed, he remains Barcelona’s leading scorer in La Liga, with seven goals, surpassing teammates Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres. His recent hat-trick against Celta Vigo brought his total to 106 goals in 159 appearances for the Catalan club, allowing him to surpass Neymar on Barcelona’s all-time scoring list. His inaugural season was exceptional, tallying 42 goals in 52 matches across competitions. This season’s seven goals in nine league appearances affirm that his finishing abilities are still remarkably sharp.

Despite the swirling rumors of a transfer, those close to Lewandowski indicate that he and his family feel quite settled in Barcelona. In a recent interview with ESPN, he expressed, “It doesn’t matter how many titles you have already won. The most important thing is how many titles you want to win. In my mind, I know that I can improve so many things. I love football, I love this team, I love this club. I still feel physically very well. I don’t have any problem with this [age] because I don’t feel it. I’m proud that I’m going to be 37 years old. But I still know that I can achieve my goals. I can help my teammates because I’m still hungry for more.”

Lewandowski’s contract extends until June 2026, yet Barcelona has yet to clarify his long-term role or consider any contract extension. For a player of his stature, this uncertainty is unusual, suggesting that a decision regarding his future may be imminent.