Barcelona’s Dominant Victory Sparks Speculation on Lewandowski’s Future

The celebrations following Barcelona’s resounding 5-0 victory over Athletic Club in Jeddah have sparked renewed speculation regarding the squad’s hierarchy. The Catalan giants delivered a formidable attacking display to secure their place in Sunday’s final, but notably did so without their most prominent goalscorer in the starting lineup.

Robert Lewandowski, a central figure in Barcelona’s attack since his arrival, was on the sidelines for most of the match. Coach Flick opted to rotate his players, a decision that paid off with the decisive win but has inevitably raised questions about the 37-year-old’s future at Camp Nou.

When asked whether Lewandowski would continue to lead the line for the club next season, Flick provided a candid yet non-committal response, suggesting that changes may be on the horizon. “If you ask about next season, I don’t know. I’m happy with Lewandowski and his work. He’s at a good level,” Flick stated during his post-match press conference.

Lewandowski’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, resulting in increased speculation about his future, with clubs from Saudi Arabia reportedly preparing bids. Additionally, AC Milan is said to be interested in uniting him with former Real Madrid star Luka Modric, and other teams are also expected to express interest in the Poland international.

Recently, the former Bayern Munich striker expressed uncertainty about his future, stating in late December: “I still have time to make a decision. Right now, I don’t know where I want to play. There’s no need to think about it yet. I don’t know which direction to take, but I don’t have any pressure. I am not talking to the coach about interested clubs. It’s not about cutting my salary in half. A lot depends on the club’s plan and what I want.”

Flick also addressed concerns regarding Lamine Yamal, who was on the bench during the Spanish Super Cup clash against Athletic Club before being substituted in the 72nd minute. While the German coach attributed Yamal’s absence from the starting XI to a minor fitness issue, he reassured that there is no cause for concern regarding the teenager’s health. “He has had some discomfort in recent days; he had not been able to train, and that is why he was not in the eleven. But he is okay,” Flick clarified.

The match itself reflected Barcelona’s dominant performance, marking one of their largest margins of victory this season. This victory came shortly after their encounter against Espanyol, which Flick referenced in his post-match analysis.

“For me, my focus is always on the next game. However, I appreciate what we did today because against Espanyol we hadn’t performed well,” Flick noted. “I like that we played as a team, together. It’s fantastic to win 5-0, but it’s only one game, and the final will be different.”

Flick also emphasized the importance of the defensive aspect of their performance. While the five goals drew attention, he pointed out that maintaining a clean sheet was a key factor in their success. “Today we managed to be in control. We needed a few minutes to find our rhythm, but then we played well. I’m pleased because we controlled the game effectively. We held possession, and I appreciate that we defended resolutely until the end to secure a clean sheet,” Flick explained.

Barcelona will now eagerly await the outcome of the semi-final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Thursday to determine their opponent in the final.