Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals that Robert Lewandowski has rejected the opportunity to leave Camp Nou.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that Robert Lewandowski has rejected the opportunity to leave Camp Nou, with the striker set to remain at the club this summer.
There has been a host of speculation surrounding the Poland international’s future in recent months, and ex-Barcelona head coach Xavi hinted at the start of May that the centre-forward could leave this summer.
Lewandowski scored 26 goals and registered nine assists in 49 appearances at club level last term, but he has another two years left on a lucrative contract, and it has been suggested that Barcelona are keen to move him on for a substantial transfer fee.
Laporta has now addressed the 35-year-old’s future, revealing that he is set to continue at the club under new head coach Hansi Flick, who managed Lewandowski for two seasons at Bayern Munich.
“We have very quality players. Flick will get the most out of a player of Lewandowski’s quality, he scored 26 goals when he won the league, this year almost 20, a total of 26, a scorer from whom you can get a lot out of,” Laporta said on the President’s Podcast on Barca One.
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Laporta confirms Lewandowski will stay at Barcelona
“He is motivated, he has said no to offers from Arabia and he did not want to leave because he is comfortable in the country. Flick has to understand this to get the most out of it.”
Lewandowski made the move to Barcelona from Bayern in the summer of 2022, and he has represented the Catalan side on 95 occasions, scoring 59 goals and registering 17 assists in the process.
Jules Kounde is another player to be linked with an exit this summer, but Laporta has confirmed that the France international is set to remain at Camp Nou, while a contract extension in Sergi Roberto‘s contract is also likely to be activated.
“We also have Kounde, who has had an extraordinary season. We have Inigo Martinez. We have [Alejandro] Balde and Gavi back. We have Sergi Roberto. The intention is to keep them all and it is also Flick’s intention,” he added.
However, Laporta was coy when asked about the future of Vitor Roque, with the youngster thought to be available on loan this summer.
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Roque could leave Barcelona on loan
“Vitor Roque was scheduled to come at the end of the season and already knows the environment. I think they will all remain, except for some who are out because their contract ends or because they have asked to leave,” said the president.
“We also have those returning from loan. I leave the planning in the hands of Deco and Flick.”
Roque arrived at Camp Nou from Athletico Paranaense in January, and he finished last season with two goals in 16 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions.
The 19-year-old could potentially spend the 2024-25 campaign away from the Catalan side, with a number of La Liga clubs thought to be interested in a short-term deal.
Laporta has also revealed that his club are planning to keep hold of on-loan duo Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix this summer, with talks ongoing over extensions to the current arrangements with Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.