Robert Lewandowski rejects €200 million Saudi offer, joins Chicago Fire

Robert Lewandowski Saudi offer Chicago Fire FC Barcelona Pini Zahavi

Robert Lewandowski turned down a two‑year contract worth €200 million – €100 million per season – from Saudi club Al‑Ittihad in January 2026 because he wanted to stay at FC Barcelona. Barcelona president Joan Laporta wanted him to remain, but sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick could not guarantee him a place in the starting eleven, which Lewandowski said mattered more than the money.

After his Barcelona contract expired, Lewandowski signed for MLS side Chicago Fire. According to his long‑time agent Pini Zahavi, the Polish striker received the league’s second‑largest salary, behind only Lionel Messi. He made his MLS debut on 23 July, starting on the bench because he could not adapt to the baseball‑shaped dimensions of Yankee Stadium’s pitch, and entered as a substitute in the match against New York City FC. After two matches – a 2‑3 loss to Inter Miami and a 1‑3 loss to NYC FC – he has yet to register his first goal for Chicago Fire.

Entities

Chicago Fire · Deco · FC Barcelona · Hansi Flick · Joan Laporta · Katarzyna Przepiórka · Mateusz Borek · Pini Zahavi · Robert Lewandowski · Yankee Stadium

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Lewandowski started on the bench because he could not adapt to the baseball‑shaped field at Yankee Stadium, which the coach described as “comical”. sportowefakty.wp.pl · przegladsportowy.onet.pl
[● 6 SOURCES] Lewandowski turned down a Saudi Arabian offer worth about €200 million (≈€100 million per season) in January. www.marca.com · sportowefakty.wp.pl · ca.sports.yahoo.com · www.mundodeportivo.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Lewandowski made his MLS debut against Inter Miami, a match Chicago lost 2‑3. sportowefakty.wp.pl
[● 2 SOURCES] Lewandowski entered as a substitute in Chicago’s 1‑3 defeat to New York City FC and did not score. sportowefakty.wp.pl · przegladsportowy.onet.pl
[● 5 SOURCES] Robert Lewandowski left FC Barcelona as a free agent after his contract expired. razydzisiaj.pl · www.sport.pl · sportal.blic.rs · ca.sports.yahoo.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Barcelona president Joan Laporta wanted Lewandowski to stay at the club. razydzisiaj.pl · www.sport.pl · sportowefakty.wp.pl · ca.sports.yahoo.com · www.mundodeportivo.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick could not guarantee Lewandowski a starting place, influencing his departure. razydzisiaj.pl · www.sport.pl · sportowefakty.wp.pl · ca.sports.yahoo.com · www.mundodeportivo.com
[● 10 SOURCES] Lewandowski signed with MLS side Chicago Fire. sportowefakty.wp.pl · www.sport.pl · przegladsportowy.onet.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.marca.com · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Pini Zahavi has been Robert Lewandowski's agent since 2018. www.bild.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] European clubs including FC Porto, AC Milan and Juventus expressed interest in signing Lewandowski. www.bild.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Robert Lewandowski received a two‑year offer worth €200 million from a Saudi Arabian club in early 2026. sportbild.bild.de · www.bild.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Robert Lewandowski rejected the Saudi Arabian club's €200 million offer. sportbild.bild.de · www.bild.de