FC Barcelona ‘Increasingly Clear’ Robert Lewandowski Must Be Sold: Reports

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is “increasingly clear” that they will have to look for a new striker this summer, which could result in Robert Lewandowski being sold according to El Nacional.

The Pole joined Barca from Bayern Munich in a 2022 transfer worth €45 million ($49 million) and came racing out of the tracks averaging a goal a game before Qatar 2022 began in mid-November.

Since returning from the World Cup, however, Lewandowski has been a shadow of himself and criticized by the local media for going missing on Barca’s “big nights”.

Columns on this topic spread after Barca were beaten 4-0 in the second leg and knocked out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals 4-1 on aggregate by bitter rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou last Wednesday.

After a 0-0 draw at the same ground against Girona on Easter Monday, which represented the first time that Barca have failed to score in two consecutive matches this season, El Nacional has reported that Laporta’s “toughest decision is inevitable”.

According to the Catalan digital newspaper, Laporta “believes it is necessary to sign a new striker because Lewandowski has lost his goalscoring sense and is no longer that big star who shone at Bayern Munich”.

Barca are therefore “increasingly clear that they will have to look for a new centre-forward” in the summer, with 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque top of their wish list.

Given that Barca are facing financial difficulties, however, and have been warned by La Liga to reduce their wage bill by €200 million ($218 million) ahead of next season, this won’t be easy.

Roque has a similar price tag that Lewandowski had before his switch from Bayern, and ‘Lewa’ also won’t be easy to offload given his dip in form and advanced years aged 34.

Barca would therefore have to sell Lewandowski at a considerable loss if they are seriously considering offloading him, but his lofty salary might make this a no brainer.

According to MARCA, Lewandowski’s contract increases in pay each year until expiry in 2026. This season, he will earn a net salary of €10 million ($10.8 million) which rises to €13 million ($14 million) next term and €16 million ($17.25 million) by 2024/2025 before dropping back down to €13 million ($14 million) in 2025/2026.

Laporta needs to make a decision soon, which could seriously affect planning for first team coach Xavi Hernandez moving forward as Barca are almost certain to start their next campaign defending the La Liga title.