Robert Lewandowski's agent, Pini Zahavi, has shared details about the striker's exit from Barcelona at the end of last season. According to him, club president Joan Laporta really wanted the Polish forward to stay for another year.
"You know Joan Laporta adores him, he truly values Lewandowski! Back in December, I spoke with him and he told me, 'I want Robert to stay.' But Laporta, whom I have been friends with for over 30 years, doesn’t interfere with the coach's decisions," Zahavi said.
He emphasized that the final decision on the squad was made by sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick, who were unable to guarantee Lewandowski a starting position. For the striker, that was more important than money.
"Robert always wants to play and be a force within the team. However, Deco and Flick had different visions for his future at Barcelona, so we started exploring other options," the agent noted.
Zahavi also revealed that Lewandowski turned down a lucrative offer to move to Saudi Arabia in January 2026: a two-year contract worth €100 million per season.
"He wanted to play in Saudi Arabia mainly because of the convenience of living—the small time difference with Warsaw and proximity to Poland. But in the end, Robert chose Barcelona, and later moved to MLS, where Chicago Fire offered him one of the highest contracts in the league after Lionel Messi. The club really wanted him," Zahavi said.
Despite Laporta’s desire to keep the player, the sporting leadership's vision and Lewandowski’s wish for a guaranteed starting role were decisive factors in his departure.
