Football Presse

Lewandowski plays down Barcelona exit talk as Serie A and MLS circle

·By Paul Lindisfarne
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Robert Lewandowski has refused to be drawn on his future at Barcelona, insisting the remaining games of the season take priority as speculation over his next club continues to mount.

The 37-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and Barcelona have made a formal renewal offer, understood to include a wage cut of around 40 to 50 per cent on his current salary. Lewandowski has until the end of April to respond, with the club keen to resolve the situation quickly.

"We still have some time. The club knows what I think and I have had time to think," he told Mundo Deportivo.

"I don't want to talk about offers and my future. The remaining matches and goals are more important. The fact that something new comes out in the press every day is not important."

AC Milan and Juventus have both made enquiries about signing him on a free transfer, though no advanced negotiations are underway with either Italian club. MLS side Chicago Fire and several Saudi Pro League clubs have also made their interest known, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that a move to the United States currently represents the most concrete alternative to staying in Spain.

Lewandowski has scored 118 goals and provided 23 assists in 187 competitive appearances since joining from Bayern Munich in 2022. He has 12 league goals this season and Barcelona are on course to win La Liga, though they were eliminated by Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

"It always hurts. We tried until the end. We fought, we wanted to win and be in the semi-finals. But football is like that. Now we have to concentrate on La Liga. We have a few games left and we want to win it."

A decision on his future is expected within weeks.