Barcelona would not stand in ace striker’s way if Saudi Arabia comes calling – Report | OneFootball

There are certain players at Barcelona regarded both for their quality and their star power as well. Such players are more than just assets on the pitch, they are seen as complete brands even away from it. For Barcelona, one such player is undoubtedly Robert Lewandowski.

Acquired from Bayern Munich previously, the Polish striker has been a model professional for the club both on and off the pitch. Beyond just the 101 goals he has scored for the Catalan club in just 147 games, he has also been a reference point for younger players and has never created issues for the team.

Moreover, his recent season for the club showcased just how impactful he can still be at the age of 36. Scoring 42 goals across all competitions, he was among European football’s elite goal scorers once again in his legendary career.

Barcelona would not stand in Lewandowski’s way

Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images

However, there is now growing concern within the club as interest from the Middle East seems to be directed towards Barça’s ace striker. Still, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club would not stand in his way if the player receives a lucrative proposal to leave the club this summer.

After all, La Blaugrana remain more than happy with what he has done for the club so far and with his professionalism as well. As long as the deal involves a significant transfer fee, something that is not seen as unfeasible for Saudi Arabian clubs, Barcelona would be willing to facilitate the move.

Still, the only way that this interest from the Middle East would mean anything would be for Lewandowski to be convinced by it. For now, his loyalty and commitment remains to Barcelona and it seems unlikely that an exit is on his mind, but then again nothing is ever a guarantee in the world of football.

Saudi Arabian interest creating concerns as well

Moreover, there are definitely some valid concerns for Barcelona to consider as well with this interest from Saudi Arabia. For starters, this is a player who offers a kind of goalscoring quantity and quality that the club does not possess apart from him. Thus, the financial prowess of Saudi Arabia to lure away players could be problematic.

Beyond that, the timing of a potential deal would also be crucial. After all, the Saudi Arabian transfer window remains open beyond the closing date of the window for Spanish sides. In that way, they could even look to snatch Lewandowski after that date and that would leave Barcelona without an opportunity to look for alternatives.

However, Lewandowski’s age is a major factor and it is expected that he will need more rest than before in this upcoming campaign. Moreover, recent reports have even claimed that the club is already thinking of his long-term replacements.

With even Marcus Rashford coming in this summer, it is clear that Barcelona wants more attacking options. Either way, it would not be untrue to say that the 36-year-old Polish striker does not have a lot of time left at the club even despite his impressive physical conditioning.