Robert Lewandowski has made a surprising claim, revealing that Barcelona’s hierarchy asked him to reduce his goal output toward the end of the 2022–23 season in order to avoid triggering a performance-related bonus owed to Bayern Munich.
The Polish striker joined Barcelona from Bayern in July 2022 in a deal reported to be worth €45 million plus add-ons, following eight highly successful seasons in Germany.
In his debut campaign with the Catalan club, Lewandowski scored 23 goals in 34 LaLiga appearances, playing a key role in Barcelona’s first league title since Lionel Messi’s departure in 2021.
Lewandowski arrived at Camp Nou during a period of severe financial difficulty for the club, with president Joan Laporta activating multiple financial “levers” to comply with LaLiga’s salary cap regulations.
Barcelona Controversy: Lewandowski Claims Club Asked Him to Ease Off Scoring
Speaking to Radio Zet in Poland, Lewandowski explained that the request was linked to Barcelona’s efforts to cut costs during that turbulent period.
“I don’t really want to go into details. I have great respect for Barcelona and for the people who work there,” he said. “I knew what situation the club was in, and there were many moments when personal sacrifices were needed for the good of the team.
“In simple terms, it was about a bonus that depended on the number of goals I scored. At that time, Barcelona were counting every single euro. It wasn’t a small bonus, but for me personally it wouldn’t have changed anything.”
When asked whether the request affected him on the pitch, Lewandowski admitted it did leave a mark.
“It stays in your head,” he said. “Even if it’s just a small percentage, it was enough for me to hesitate at times about whether to score or not.
“At the highest level, that’s all it takes. Sometimes five percent — even three percent — can decide whether you score or whether you win.”
This season, Lewandowski has scored eight goals in LaLiga, as Hansi Flick’s Barcelona sit four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table after 18 matchdays.
