FC Barcelona have reportedly received an offer from Saudi Arabia for striker Robert Lewandowski.
FC Barcelona have received a tempting transfer market deadline day offer from Saudi Arabia for Robert Lewandowski, according to SPORT.
Barca signed the Pole from Bayern Munich a year ago, in a deal worth €45 million ($48.6 million) plus €5 million ($5.4 million) in add-ons after they pulled one of their economic levers.
Lewandowski made an excellent start to life in Catalonia, netting an impressive 18 goals in 19 games.
These strikes were pivotal in the Blaugrana winning the La Liga title for the first time in four years while Lewandowski also claimed the Pichichi award for Spain’s top scorer previously owned by Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema.
Following the World Cup in Qatar, however, Lewandowski’s output fell dramatically and he has started the new 2023/2024 season no better with just one goal in three games – a tap in that fell to his feet away at Villarreal on Sunday after teen sensation Lamine Yamal hit the post with a self-created chance.
In the days before what proved to be the winner in a 4-3 thriller at the Estadio de la Ceramica, El Nacional reported that Barca have decided to sell the 35-year-old for €40 million ($43.4 million) in 2024.
If reports from SPORT are accurate, however, the Catalans need not wait until the end of the season to offload the veteran as a Saudi Pro League outfit has already tabled the sum on Friday morning.
While the transfer market closes on September 1 in Spain, its Saudi equivalent remains open until the 20th.
With Lewandowski’s salary increasing each year according to MARCA, and Vitor Roque set to arrive from Brazil in January, financially-struggling Barca might be tempted to sell their number 9 already without further ado.
As Lewandowski’s contract – which reportedly rises to €13 million ($14 million) this term and grows to €16 million ($17.3 million) in 2024/2025 before dropping back down to €13 million ($14 million) – doesn’t expire until mid-2026, however, he is under no obligation to up sticks just yet.
On Sunday, Lewandowski should start in Barca’s away trip to Osasuna which is their last fixture before international break.