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Barcelona 'looking to avoid £5.2m pay rise in Robert Lewandowski contract'

Barcelona 'looking to avoid £5.2m pay rise in Robert Lewandowski contract'
© Reuters
Barcelona are reportedly trying to get out of handing Robert Lewandowski a pay rise worth around £5.2m as he is owed in the terms of his contract.

Barcelona are reportedly trying to get out of granting striker Robert Lewandowski a hefty pay rise worth around £5.2m.

The Poland international penned a four-year contract with Xavi's team in the summer of 2022 after ending his glittering spell at Bayern Munich, and his salary is due to rise every season.

A scintillating first campaign from Lewandowski saw the 35-year-old come up with 33 goals across all competitions, including a league-high 23 in La Liga as Barca stormed to the top-flight title.

However, Lewandowski has failed to hit his usual lofty heights in the 2023-24 campaign, managing nine goals and five assists in 21 games amid La Blaugrana's collective struggles.

Lewandowski has managed just three goals in Barca's last 10 La Liga matches, while he also failed to score in each of the Blaugrana's last four Champions League group-stage games, although they still sailed through to the knockout rounds.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring with Lamine Yamal on August 27, 2023© Reuters

The 35-year-old's downturn in fortunes this season has led to suggestions that he could be axed by Barcelona in 2024, with teams from Saudi Arabia believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation.

It has also been claimed that Barca could consider Lewandowski's sale to boost their chances of signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, but the Pole is in no rush to end his Camp Nou adventure.

For the 2023-24 campaign, Lewandowski is expected to receive approximately £22.5m in remuneration, and his pay is set to shoot up to £27.7m should he stay on the books for 2024-25.

However, as part of their ongoing cost-cutting measures, Sport claims that the Blaugrana could try to re-negotiate the terms of Lewandowski's contract to get out of paying him his agreed increase.

The former Borussia Dortmund man does not envisage himself leaving La Liga before his Barcelona contract comes to an end, and his camp could end up agreeing to forgo his owed rise.

Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on December 10, 2023© Reuters

Lewandowski's agent Pini Zahavi is understood to possess a good relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, and he has made it clear that the forward will be going nowhere in 2024.

Despite rumours that Barca could sanction the 35-year-old's departure to fund future business, the report adds that the club plan to build their future project around him and imminent arrival Vitor Roque.

Lewandowski has come up with a total of 42 goals and 13 assists in 67 matches for Barcelona since departing Bayern Munich, who received £39.1m for his sale last summer.

Barcelona occupy fourth place in the La Liga table, seven points worse off than Real Madrid and Girona, and their first game of 2024 takes them away to Las Palmas on January 4.

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FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta speaks during the board meeting on September 13, 2023
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2Barcelona33227468392973
3GironaGirona33225669402971
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis33121384139249
8Valencia33138123738-147
9Villarreal33129125455-145
10Getafe331013104145-443
11Osasuna33116163749-1239
12Sevilla33911134246-438
13AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano33713132742-1534
16Mallorca33614132739-1232
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz33414152346-2326
19Granada3349203661-2521
RAlmeria33111213267-3514


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