Transfer Centre

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski rules out Saudi Arabia move

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 13 June 2023

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski rules out Saudi move

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski rules out a summer transfer to a club in Saudi Arabia, 12 months after moving to Camp Nou from Bayern Munich.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has ruled out a summer transfer to a club in Saudi Arabia.

The 34-year-old ended his goal-laden eight-year association with German giants Bayern Munich to join Barcelona last summer for around €50m.

Lewandowski enjoyed a prolific 2022-23 campaign in front of goal, scoring 33 times in 46 appearances across all tournaments, and he helped the Catalan giants win their first La Liga title in four years.

The Poland international, who also lifted the Spanish Super Cup with Barca, still has three years left to run on his contract at Camp Nou, but the prospect of an early exit has already been mooted.

Indeed, Lewandowski is one of a number of top players across Europe who has attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, with champions Al-Ittihad having already lured Karim Benzema away from Real Madrid.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their fourth goal to complete his hat-trick on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

N'Golo Kante is poised to leave Chelsea and join Benzema, while the likes of Neymar, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Luka Modric, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wilfried Zaha have also been linked with a big-money switch to the Middle East.

However, Lewandowski has insisted that he plans to stay at Barcelona and will not be tempted by a move to any Saudi Arabian club this summer.

Speaking to Polish news outlet Sport Interia, Lewandowski said: "There is no issue. So I don't think about it, because why should I think about it if there is no issue?

"Especially because my contract [with Barca] still runs for a while. I see what is happening [in Saudi Arabia] but it doesn't worry me, because I have other priorities at the moment."

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal on May 23, 2023 © Reuters

The Saudi Pro League has gained popularity since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in January, following his sour exit from Manchester United.

Former Barca forward Lionel Messi had been linked with a possible switch to Saudi Arabia, but he has since confirmed that he will link up with MLS side Inter Miami when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires.

Middle Eastern giants are also eyeing up managers from across Europe, with journalist Romain Molina claiming that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is on the verge of being appointed as Al-Ettifaq boss.

Gerrard – who has previously managed Rangers and Aston Villa – is allegedly in Saudi Arabia to finalise his move to Al-Ettifaq, who finished seventh in the top-flight table last season.