Zahavi: Lewandowski rejected €100M Saudi offer to stay at Barcelona before joining Chicago Fire

Hupu Football News | July 27

Robert Lewandowski's agent, Pini Zahavi, has revealed in an interview with Polish media SportoweFakty the reasons behind the striker's departure from Barcelona and his decision to join MLS side Chicago Fire. Zahavi disclosed that Lewandowski initially wanted to play another year at Barcelona, and club president Joan Laporta shared that wish—but Barcelona's sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick had different plans for Lewandowski's future role.

Laporta Wanted Lewandowski to Stay

Zahavi, who maintains a close relationship with Laporta, said:

"You know, Laporta really likes Lewandowski! He also wanted Lewandowski to stay at Camp Nou for another year. I spoke with him about this last December, and he said: 'I want Lewandowski to stay.'"

However, Laporta's views did not align with those of Barcelona's sports department and coaching staff. According to Zahavi, Laporta understood he should not interfere with the work of Deco and Flick.

"They are the ones who decide the squad. They couldn't guarantee Lewandowski a starting spot, and for him, that was even more important than money. You know him, he always wants to play, to be a key figure in the team. But Deco and Flick had different views on Lewandowski's future at Barcelona, so at a certain point, we started considering other options."

At that moment, Lewandowski's future began to drift away from Camp Nou.

Relationship Remains Unchanged

Despite the departure, Zahavi emphasized that the relationship between Lewandowski and Barcelona remains intact. He recalled a conversation with Laporta:

"He told me: 'Tell Lewandowski we love him. He is part of our history, the one who saved Barcelona.' You understand? 'Saved Barcelona,' that's exactly what he said."

Zahavi believes this means the door at Barcelona will remain open for Lewandowski in the future: "So I believe that if one day he wants to work for Barcelona, there will be a place for him there."

Rejected €200 Million Saudi Offer

Zahavi also revealed that Lewandowski had the opportunity to leave Barcelona months ago. In January of this year, he received a two-year contract offer from Saudi Arabia worth €100 million per season—totaling €200 million. Lewandowski rejected it.

"In January 2026, Lewandowski had a 2-year contract offer worth €100 million per season."

When asked why Lewandowski refused, Zahavi replied directly: "Because he wanted to play for Barcelona."

After that, the possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia gradually diminished. Saudi clubs later adjusted their spending policies, and offers of that magnitude no longer existed. Zahavi had contact with Al-Ittihad and communicated with high-level officials from Qatar, but ultimately told Lewandowski that this path had become complicated.

Options Narrowed to Gulf and United States

Lewandowski was not opposed to playing in the Gulf region—it is closer to Poland, has a small time difference, and offers a relatively convenient lifestyle. However, from May onwards, the realistic options before him were mainly two directions: the Gulf region and the United States.

Lewandowski was unwilling to consider offers from England, Germany, or France. In Spain, he only considered staying at Barcelona. Zahavi negotiated with clubs from Portugal and Italy, but these options ultimately did not convince Lewandowski.

Porto's Pursuit

Porto president André Villas-Boas personally contacted Lewandowski and kept pushing until the end, hoping to persuade him to join. Zahavi believes Porto could have offered Lewandowski a central role, leadership, and sufficient recognition, but Lewandowski ultimately ruled out this possibility.

Italian Interest

Zahavi met with AC Milan's management and also communicated with Juventus CEO Damiano Comolli. However, the deal was beyond the financial reach of both clubs. Zahavi concluded: "Serie A is no longer the richest league in the world; the situation there is very difficult now."

Chicago Fire's Persistence Paid Off

The most persistent suitor was Chicago Fire. To sign Lewandowski, the MLS team had been working for a year. Initial contact took place in London, where Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter and several club executives met with Zahavi. Zahavi's initial response was that Lewandowski still had a contract and wanted to stay at Barcelona, but Chicago Fire did not give up.

Last December, Berhalter traveled to Spain in person to present the club's project to Lewandowski. This persistence ultimately became the decisive factor.

"Chicago Fire's management worked harder than anyone else to get him. Few teams are so desperate to sign a player. They were patient, determined, and creative. They did everything to convince Lewandowski, absolutely everything."

Financial Terms

Chicago Fire offered Lewandowski a top-tier financial package. He signed a two-year contract with total earnings close to $40 million. According to Zahavi, this is the second-highest contract in MLS history, behind only Lionel Messi.

Lewandowski wanted to find a project where he could continue playing, feel important, and take on a leadership role—and Chicago Fire offered all three.

Zahavi Draws Parallel to Barcelona Arrival

Zahavi believes Lewandowski's impact at Chicago Fire could mirror his role when he first joined Barcelona. At that time, Barcelona was in a very difficult phase, and Lewandowski's arrival helped the team get back on track.

"When Lewandowski came to Barcelona, the club was in a critical situation, facing serious financial problems. But Lewandowski took the risk and helped them return to the top. I think he can follow a similar path at Chicago Fire."

Berhalter's goal presented to Lewandowski is ambitious: leading Chicago Fire to win the MLS Cup. Zahavi believes Lewandowski has the ability to become the core figure driving Chicago Fire's growth both competitively and at the club level, playing a role similar to Messi's in American football.

Source: Diario Sport