Lewandowski at Barcelona: 'decision has already been made'

Stuart Telford

• 18 Jan 2024 11:58 GMT
• 3 min read

Robert Lewandowski will be sold by Barcelona this summer, just two years on from his €45 million arrival from Bayern Munich, according to Catalan media.

Lewandowski started well at Barca, firing them to the La Liga title with 23 goals from his 34 games. With seven assists thrown in, he looked like a leader from the front.

But this season his production has slowed to eight goals and four assists in 17 appearances. In the Champions League he dropped from five in five to one in five, and the management are reportedly losing patience.

"The club expected him to recapture this season the form he had last, but the truth is he is showing signs of wear and tear," claim El National of Catalonia.

"Lewandowski's contract also increases year on year, so the decision that the Pole will leave in the summer has already been made."

Ready-made replacement

Only Frenkie de Jong brings home more than Lewandowski, the Dutchman on €37.5 million a season to the Pole's €26m. But Barca clearly expect diminishing returns from a player who turns 36 in August.

They have also already signed Lewandowski's would-be replacement, with Brazilian prodigy Vitor Roque having joined from Athletico Paranaense for €40m at the start of January.

Lewandowski is still valued at €33.3m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, and his sale would be a welcome boost for a club who remain more than €1 billion in debt.

Chelsea were previously linked with a move for the striker before he left Bayern for Barca, but the Saudi Pro League would now appear the best chance for club and player to make sufficient money on a deal.

Barca are ready to cash in on more than just Lewandowski, with the club hoping to find a Premier League suitor for former Leeds winger Raphinha.