Lewandowski reveals Barça asked him to stop scoring goals to save cash
Polish striker admits Barcelona officials requested he ease off goal-scoring to avoid triggering a €2.5m bonus payment to Bayern Munich during financial struggles.
Barcelona’s penny-pinching reached new heights when club officials asked Robert Lewandowski to deliberately stop scoring goals to avoid triggering bonus payments.
The Bizarre Bonus Request
The Polish marksman has finally addressed one of the strangest episodes of his Barcelona career, confirming reports that emerged in his biography ‘Lewandowski. Prawdziwy’ (‘Lewandowski. The Real One’).
With two matches remaining in the 2022-23 La Liga season and Barcelona already crowned champions, club executives approached their star striker with an unusual request - stop finding the back of the net. At the time, Lewandowski had notched 23 goals, securing the Pichichi trophy as La Liga’s top scorer, but apparently that wasn’t enough for some bean counters at Camp Nou.
The reason? Pure economics. Barcelona would have owed Bayern Munich a hefty €2.5 million bonus if Lewandowski reached 25 goals - money the cash-strapped Catalans were desperate to avoid paying.
Lewy’s Response
Speaking to Polish journalist Bogdan Rymanowski on YouTube, Lewandowski showed remarkable understanding about the awkward situation:
“I was aware of the club’s situation,” the striker admitted, displaying diplomatic skills that would make a politician proud.
Rather than kick off about the request, Lewy seems to have taken it in his stride: “The Barcelona looked at every euro at that time, and it wasn’t a small amount… I have no problem with that.”
Though he did reveal it gave him a proper head-scratcher: “It stuck in my head and I wondered whether to score or not.”
Contract Situation
The interview also touched on Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona, with his current deal set to expire in June 2026. The 36-year-old could technically negotiate with other clubs from January 1st if no extension is agreed.
When asked about potential salary reductions, Lewy remained coy: “It’s not a question of halving my salary. The decision will depend on what the club wants and what I consider best.”
He added that there’s “still time to decide” and that he feels “no pressure” about making a choice on his next move.
For a club that once splashed the cash like it was going out of fashion, asking your star striker to stop scoring goals to save a few quid really does take the biscuit. Barcelona’s financial troubles have been no secret, but this takes penny-pinching to a whole new level!