Robert Lewandowski has suggested he will stay at Barcelona for “at least two more years” and says he has not considered a potential move to the US or Saudi Arabia “for a second”.
Poland captain Lewandowski produced 33 goals in 46 appearances in his first season at Barca but has been less prolific in his second campaign, scoring 20 times in 43 matches as he approaches his 36th birthday in August.
“Saying goodbye is definitely out of the question for me,” Lewandowski told Bild. “Changing in the summer is not an issue.
“I feel physically good again now. I had physical problems in the first half of the season, right from the beginning of the preparation.
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“Things got better in 2024. I played well – sometimes in a different role, as a false nine. I was able to provide assists and help shape the game.
“As long as I continue to feel as good as I do now and notice in training that no-one is outrunning me, I want to keep playing. As of today, I say this will continue for at least two more years.
“Only when I notice that I am no longer physically at top level and am in pain would I start to think. That’s not the case.”
Messi, Ronaldo paths ‘don’t make sense’ to Lewandowski
Lewandowski’s nine assists are one more than he supplied in 2022/23, having moved from Bayern Munich for £42.5 million in July 2022.
Two of Lewandowski’s fellow generational talents, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have made high-profile moves away from Europe during their mid-30s, with the Argentina skipper joining Inter Miami in the MLS and the Portugal record scorer moving to Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr.
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“I haven’t thought about it for a second so far – neither a move to Saudi Arabia nor to the USA,” said Lewandowski, who would likely earn considerably more in either country.
“That doesn’t make sense at the moment. At some point, it’s about what my heart and my head say.”
Poland beat Wales on penalties in the play-offs to qualify for Uefa Euro 2024, in which they will face the Netherlands, Austria and France in the group stage in June. They will then hope to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the US.
“When I’m 38 years old and the pain comes, I have to ask myself: do I even want to continue?” said Lewandowski.
“But I don’t want to plan that far yet. Currently I say that I can definitely play at this highest level by 2026.”