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AFCON 2025
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Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski confirmed rumours that the club asked him to stop scoring goals
Robert Lewandowski has opened up on a remarkable moment during his Barcelona career when the club asked him to hold back from scoring in La Liga.
The Polish striker explained the financial realities behind the request, offering a rare insight into just how tight things were at Camp Nou.
Lewandowski confirms Barcelona’s unusual request
Lewandowski has been nothing short of prolific since joining Barcelona, racking up 109 goals in 165 appearances across all competitions in just three and a half seasons. However, his tally could have been even higher if not for an extraordinary request made by senior club officials late last year.
In November, reports emerged that Barcelona had asked Lewandowski not to score in the final league matches, with the striker sitting on 23 La Liga goals at the time.
Reaching 25 would have activated a clause in his transfer agreement, forcing Barcelona to pay Bayern Munich an additional €2.5 million. Speaking to Polish journalist Bogdan Rymanowski, Lewandowski confirmed the reports were true.
“There are things I don’t want to talk about. I respect Barcelona and the people who work there a lot,” he said, acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation. “I was aware of the club’s situation. There were many other situations that needed to be resolved for the good of the club.”
Financial strain highlights Barcelona’s struggles
Lewandowski went on to explain that the issue was purely financial, rather than sporting, and insisted he did not take the request personally. “In short, it was a bonus, and it is known that at that time Barcelona looked to save every euro,” he revealed. “It was no small thing, and for me, nothing changed either.”
Still, the striker admitted the request lingered in his mind during matches. “I have no problem with that, but it stuck in my head and I wondered whether to score a goal or not,” he added, underlining how unusual the situation was for a top-level forward.
While Barcelona’s finances have improved in recent years, the episode illustrates just how desperate the club once was.
Saving €2.5 million may seem minor at elite level, but for a club still battling to return fully to La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule, every euro continues to matter.