Robert Lewandowski rejected a €100 million-per-season offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at Barcelona, prioritising titles, competition, and family life over money, agent Pini Zahavi reveals.
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Pini Zahavi, Robert Lewandowski’s long-time agent and trusted confidant, has lifted the lid on one of the most eye-catching transfer approaches of recent years, revealing that the Polish striker who will celebrate his 37th birthday on August 21 turned down a staggering offer from a Saudi Arabian club during the previous summer transfer window.
The bid, which Zahavi described as “life-changing” in financial terms, could have seen Lewandowski pocket an unprecedented €100 million per season, yet the forward never wavered in his decision to stay in Europe and continue competing at the highest level.
Speaking to the Polish daily newspaper “Fakt,” Zahavi stressed that Lewandowski was not swayed in the slightest by the astronomical salary dangled in front of him. Instead, the two-time FIFA Best Men’s Player was motivated by sporting ambition and the desire to keep testing himself against Europe’s elite. “I can explain that a year ago he received an offer from Saudi Arabia in which they were offering him 100 million euros per season. Per season! And he didn’t want to accept it, he wanted to fight for major titles,” Zahavi explained with emphasis. “He wanted to compete for the league and the Champions League with Barça, and he almost managed to win all of those titles.”
Lewandowski’s stance reflects a career-long pattern. Having established himself as one of the world’s most prolific forwards at Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, he moved to Barcelona in 2022 not for financial gain but to embrace a new challenge. Since his arrival in Spain, he has been instrumental in helping the Catalan giants reclaim domestic dominance, winning La Liga in his first season and continuing to spearhead their attack with trademark consistency and professionalism. His decision to reject the Saudi millions underscores his commitment to maintaining a competitive edge, rather than opting for the financial security and potentially less demanding footballing environment offered by the Saudi Pro League.
Zahavi also touched on Lewandowski’s lifestyle priorities, noting that his client places significant importance on his living environment and family happiness. “Lewandowski cares a lot about where he lives, and he is delighted to live in Barcelona and play for Barça,” the agent said. The Polish captain has often spoken about his love for the city’s culture, climate, and community, which offer a stable and enjoyable backdrop for both his professional and personal life. For him, the idea of uprooting this balance even for a monumental paycheck – was never appealing.
Another factor that weighed into his thinking, Zahavi pointed out, was the current landscape in Saudi Arabian football. In the past two years, the Saudi Pro League has aggressively recruited big-name stars from Europe, creating a talent glut. “Saudi clubs are overflowing with players and hardly know what to do with them,” Zahavi remarked. “There is a limit on signing foreign players, and that greatly restricts the options. But in any case, Lewandowski didn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia. He could have, but he didn’t want to.” The influx of international stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, and N’Golo Kanté has transformed the league’s profile, yet it has also created intense competition for spots in starting line-ups, especially given the strict quota on foreign players.
Despite his outright rejection of last summer’s offer, interest from the Gulf nation has not waned. According to Zahavi, Saudi clubs remain eager to lure Lewandowski, viewing him as a marquee signing who could add both goals and global prestige. However, there is little to indicate that the striker’s stance has shifted. With two years remaining on his Barcelona contract, Lewandowski is still focused on adding to his already illustrious career at the Camp Nou, where he has become a leader on and off the pitch.
The situation mirrors a broader trend in world football, where established stars are faced with the choice between lucrative moves to emerging leagues and the chance to continue competing in Europe’s most prestigious competitions. For Lewandowski, the Champions League and the battle for domestic titles remain irresistible targets, outweighing even the most extravagant paychecks. At a stage in his career where many players would consider a final cash-in, the Polish icon has shown that legacy, competition, and personal fulfilment can still take precedence over financial reward.
As the new season approaches, Lewandowski’s focus will be firmly on helping Barcelona challenge for silverware, with Saudi Arabia’s millions for now at least left on the table.
