Barcelona forced Lewandowski to stop scoring goals last season as details of secret request revealed: Reports

Barcelona reportedly asked Robert Lewandowski to stop scoring goals in the 2022/23 season. The Catalan side wanted to avoid paying the bonus to Bayern Munich if the striker had reached the 25-goal mark in the league.

According to Sebastian Staszewski's biography of Lewandowski, Barcelona held a meeting with the Polish striker soon after sealing the league title. Then-manager Xavi, along with a few board members, spoke to the striker when he had 23 league goals.

Barcelona signed Lewandowski from Bayern Munich in 2022, and the German club had a bonus of €2.5 million every time the striker scored 25 league goals. The Catalan side, who were in a financial crisis, wanted to avoid paying the bonus and thus asked their star player to stop scoring goals. A board member was quoted as saying (via Barca Blaugranes):

“Robert, we need you to stop scoring goals in the last two matches.”

Lewandowski won the Pichichi (La Liga Golden Boot) despite not scoring in the last two games of the season. He beat Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who finished with 19 goals in the season, to the trophy.

The Barcelona star finished the season with 33 goals, having scored five times in the UEFA Champions League, once in the Europa League, and twice each in the Copa del Rey and Supercopa. His future at the Catalan club remains in the balance as he heads to the end of his contract.

The striker has not been offered a new deal, but remains calm about his situation. He told GOAL:

"I still don't know the answer. That's why I'm not in a hurry, I'm at peace with myself. And that is the most important thing. Even if, for example, the club contacted me now, I still wouldn't answer that question. Because I also have to feel what's best for me. Now I'm calm, I'm not in a hurry and, at the moment, I don't expect anything else."

Cristiano Ronaldo-led Al-Nassr have been linked with the forward, while AC Milan are also keeping tabs.

Barcelona star's agent rules out winter exit

Robert Lewandowski's agent, Pini Zahavi, has ruled out an exit from Barcelona in the winter window. He has revealed that the forward has no plans to switch clubs in the middle of the season and told 365 Scores Arabic:

“Everything being said about Lewandowski's possible departure in the winter transfer window is completely false. Robert isn’t thinking about leaving right now; he’s completely focused on helping the team and winning titles. He feels completely settled in Barcelona and has no intention of opening the door to a mid-season exit.”

Lewandowski has started just four times in the league this season, while coming off the bench five times. He has scored seven goals, but is yet to open his account in the three UEFA Champions League games.