Barcelona ‘told Lewandowski to stop scoring’ to dodge Bayern bonus, striker claims in new book
Barcelona allegedly asked Robert Lewandowski to ease off the goals late in the 2022-23 campaign to avoid coughing up a hefty bonus payment to Bayern Munich, according to revelations in the striker’s new biography.
Lewandowski, writing in Lewandowski: The Real Story, says senior Barça figures approached him as the season was winding down under Xavi. With the La Liga title already wrapped up and goals flying in, the club was apparently sweating over a clause that would trigger extra cash to Bayern if he hit a certain tally.
The Polish star recalls a chat involving club chiefs, including president Joan Laporta, who bluntly told him: “Robert, we need you to stop scoring in the last few matches.” The 36-year-old admits he was stunned, saying no one had ever asked him anything like that in his career. For a player built on ruthless finishing, the idea landed like a lead balloon.
Barça had agreed to pay Bayern up to €2.5m if Lewandowski went past 25 league goals. He was closing in fast, but after the conversation he ended up finishing on 23, two short of triggering the payout. Whether he held back or simply didn’t find the net is left hanging in the book, though the suggestion is the situation was, let’s say, ‘carefully managed’ behind the scenes.
Even with the odd cloud swirling above the paperwork, the season ended in triumph. Barcelona cruised to the title, Xavi was hailed as a rebuilder-in-chief, and Lewandowski nabbed the Pichichi as La Liga’s top scorer. The whole episode is painted off as a quirky anecdote, one of many from inside a chaotic but successful year.
Looking ahead, the tale raises fresh questions over Barça’s financial tightrope and the sort of clauses buried in modern mega-deals. Lewandowski’s future goals, and the club’s future payments, will be under just as much scrutiny as they push for silverware again next season.