Barcelona Accused of Asking Lewandowski to “Stop Scoring” to Avoid €2.5M Payout
Sports Updated: 20 November 2025 10:04 EAT
Barcelona Polish star Robert Lewandowski
A bombshell revelation from Robert Lewandowski’s new biography Lewandowski. Prawdziwy (“The Real One”) by Sebastian Staszewski alleges that FC Barcelona asked the Polish striker not to score in the final two matches of the 2022–23 La Liga season.
According to the book, the request came during a high-level meeting that included board members and then-president Joan Laporta, shortly after Barça had already clinched the league title. At that point, Lewandowski was on 23 goals, just two shy of triggering a performance-based bonus to his former club, Bayern Munich.
The financial motive behind the plea is said to have been the €2.5 million that Barcelona would be obligated to pay Bayern if Lewandowski hit 25 goals. Despite the unusual request, Lewandowski played both remaining matches in full but failed to find the net.
Ironically, although he didn’t score in those final games, Lewandowski still won the Pichichi Trophy for being La Liga’s top scorer with 23 goals.
The biography’s author claims the story is backed by at least five sources within Barcelona. According to these sources, the request left Lewandowski bewildered — no other club in his long career had ever asked him to hold back.
The report has reignited debates about Barça’s financial woes, highlighting how economic pressures may have influenced on-field decisions. Critics argue it raises serious ethical questions, while others view it as a sign of how precarious the club’s finances were during that period.
Tags: Barcelona Fc La Liga Bayern Munich Editor's Pick
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FELIX MAKONA
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