Robert Lewandowski snubs Saudi riches for Barcelona glory

Instead, the Polish striker chose to stay with Barcelona, driven by his ambition to compete for major honours. This revelation came from his agent, Pini Zahavi, in an interview with Polish outlet Fakt.

Zahavi disclosed that the offer was concrete and would have made Robert Lewandowski one of the highest-paid players in the world.

"A year ago, they offered him more than 100 million euros per season. Per season! But he wanted to fight for La Liga and the Champions League. He came close to winning both," Zahavi said.

Beyond the pursuit of trophies, Zahavi highlighted Lewandowski's deep connection to Barcelona as a key factor in his decision. "This is his place on earth, where he feels most comfortable," the agent added, referring to the forward's contentment in the Catalan capital.

Zahavi also pointed out the challenges in Saudi football, noting, "Their clubs are overflowing with players; they don't even know what to do with them. There are limits on foreign players, which restricts their options. But Robert had no interest in playing there anyway."

Barcelona have benefited from Lewandowski's loyalty, with the 36-year-old continuing to lead their attack in the 2024-25 season.

Recent posts on X from Barcelona's official account praised his contributions, stating, "Robert Lewandowski's goals and leadership remain vital to our ambitions in La Liga and Europe."

Meanwhile, Lewandowski himself shared on X, "Barcelona is home, and I'm here to keep fighting for the badge."

This decision underscores Lewandowski's commitment to the Blaugrana, prioritising silverware and sentiment over a lucrative move to the Middle East.

READ MORE: PSG snatch UEFA Super Cup glory in dramatic penalty shootout over Tottenham