Robert Lewandowski makes decision on Barcelona future – report
Star striker Robert Lewandowski has turned down a bumper contract in Saudi Arabia in order to stay at Barcelona, according to reports in Spain.
The Poland international joined Barca in the 2022 summer transfer window and fired the club to their first La Liga title in four years in his debut season, bagging an impressive 23 goals in the league and 33 in all competitions. Lewandowski’s second season at the club has been less successful in front of goal, with the forward enduring a barren run of form in which he netted just two goals in 11 games before the turn of the new year.
Following that patchy run of form, rumours began to swirl around the forward’s long-term future at Barcelona.
Lewandowski has been consistently linked with a move to Saudi Arabia to join fellow veteran superstars Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sport have reported that he received an offer that would ‚triple‘ his current salary at Barca in order to move to the Middle East.
Despite the lucrative offer, the report further states that Lewandowski has opted to turned the contract in order to see out the third and final year of his current deal at Barcelona.
Speaking recently, the striker did hint at his intention to stay at Barca by insisting that he was keen to play at Camp Nou again – with the stadium currently undergoing major renovations.
„It is one of the objectives, to play again at Camp Nou,“ Lewandowski confirmed. „It’s a magical stadium, a magical field, and yes, of course, we have to wait ten months I think. In the new season, almost at the end of the year, we will be on the field and we will be able to play with all our people and with that atmosphere.
„I feel very good in the city, my family too, very happy and happy. I am happy in the club, but also in everything else.“
News of Lewandowski confirming his intent to stay at Barca comes during a period of upswing in both the club and their star striker’s fortunes during the 2023/24 season.
Having endured a torrid run of form in front of goal at the end of 2023, Lewandowski has firmly found form again in recent months, bagging ten goal contributions since the start of February as his club have enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run of form which has seen them rise to second in La Liga and safely through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.