“Not even for all the gold in the world – or at least not for €200 million, which remains a staggering figure for anyone. And yet that is what Robert Lewandowski told the Arab emissaries who, only a few months ago, tried to bring him to the Saudi Pro League: the revelation comes directly from Pini Zahavi, the striker’s agent, speaking to Polish outlet SportoweFakty. The club involved has not been disclosed, but the offer was clear: ‘€100 million per season, for the next two years. Lewa said no simply because he wanted to stay at Barcelona.’ One transfer window later, he is at Chicago Fire. On considerably lower wages, but without regret. The strange part is that Lewandowski ‘would actually have liked to play in Riyadh. Also because of the distance from Poland, compared with the United States,’ Zahavi says. ‘But Lewa did not want to leave Barça in the middle of the season and, in the meantime, the Saudi clubs have significantly revised their spending levels for incoming players: certain offers will not come again.’ Not for him, and not for many others.
‘We chose Chicago because it was the club that believed in the player more than anyone else, giving him a central role. With Robert’s guidance, they can become the best club in MLS.’ And the Warsaw striker does seem happy. He has started this new chapter with enthusiasm. But after the Saudi possibility disappeared, there is a question that remains: did he expect something different from Barcelona? ‘President Laporta adores him. He wanted Robert to play at Camp Nou for another year. But Deco and Flick, the sporting director and the coach, chose another path: they could no longer guarantee him a starting place. And for him, that matters more than any amount of money. He wants to continue feeling important, wherever that may be. So we began looking at other possibilities, until the agreement with Chicago Fire.’
Among those possibilities, one will leave some Italian supporters wondering. ‘Several friends who work in the Premier League asked me about Robert, but I immediately told them it was impossible. We had only two countries in mind: Portugal and Italy.’ Zahavi is keen to stress that it was not a throwaway idea. ‘In recent months I met with Milan’s management and spoke with Damien Comolli, who was then Juventus’ chief executive: bringing Lewandowski to either club would have been a huge move. The problem, frankly, is that Lewandowski is a player beyond their reach.’ Even approaching the age of 38. ‘Serie A is no longer the richest league in the world. Today, the situation there is very difficult.’ And unfortunately, we know that all too well.”