Barcelona are open to keeping Lewandowski for another season.
The 37-year-old striker is willing to take a pay cut and accept a reserve role to stay, as his contract expires at the end of the season. Deco says his future is uncertain; he has scored 8 goals in 5 games since his return but has been less in form recently.
Barcelona are not yet closed to the possibility of keeping Robert Lewandowski for another season, despite the Polish striker being 37 years old. According to MARCA, the club's management are open to a short-term extension, and Lewandowski is reportedly willing to take a pay cut and accept a reserve role if necessary to continue playing for Barcelona. His current contract expires at the end of the season, after four years at Camp Nou.
Sporting director Deco confirmed that all options remain open:“Robert is a fantastic player. Last season he was the top scorer, and this year, despite injury, he's still one of the leading goalscorers. But now is not the time to talk about the future. Everything is still up in the air.”
Post-injury form and the rotation strategy
Lewandowski's 2025 season began with an injury that sidelined him for several weeks. This allowed Ferran Torres to take his place in the starting lineup. Upon regaining his fitness, the veteran striker immediately reclaimed his place: returning to the starting XI in the last five matches across all competitions and scoring eight goals for Barcelona.
However, Lewandowski's sharpness in front of goal has diminished in recent matches. With a packed schedule at the end of the year, coach Hansi Flick has reason to reconsider his attacking options, balancing the need to maintain goal-scoring efficiency with managing the fitness of his older key players.
Tactical framework: flexible roles if staying
The possibility of a one-season contract extension, coupled with role adjustments – being ready to be a substitute when needed – allows Barcelona more flexibility in rotating their attacking line. When Lewandowski is in form, the team has an experienced striker to handle tense matches. When a change of pace is needed, options like Ferran Torres can provide greater mobility.
Barcelona's consideration of keeping Lewandowski also reflects his value off the pitch. The team is undergoing a generational transition, and the Polish striker's experience and influence in the dressing room are considered crucial for younger players like Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez.
The determining variables
The final decision on Lewandowski's future will largely depend on his performances in the final weeks of 2025. If he rediscovers his goal-scoring form and helps Barcelona maintain consistency, a contract extension becomes a possibility. Conversely, a prolonged slump will force the coaching staff to prioritize a more flexible approach for the remainder of the season.
Data Highlights
- Last 5 starts in all competitions: 8 goals.
- Having missed a few weeks of the season due to injury gave Ferran Torres the opportunity to start.
- The current contract expires at the end of the season; a short-term extension is being considered.
- Lewandowski is willing to take a pay cut and accept a reserve role in order to stay at Barcelona.
With signals from MARCA and Deco's "everything is still up in the air" approach, Barcelona is trying to maintain the initiative: monitoring Lewandowski's form, managing his workload during the congested schedule, and only making decisions when they have enough information. It's a pragmatic approach during the transition period, but one that still respects the influence of a top striker.