WARSAW, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona sporting director Deco stated that the club authorities are extremely pleased with Robert Lewandowski and are keen for him to remain with the team. The Polish forward's contract is valid until June 2026.
In 2022, Lewandowski signed a three-year deal with an automatic one-year renewal clause, triggered if he plays in at least half of the team's matches during the season. If he starts Monday's match against Rayo Vallecano and plays a minimum of 45 minutes, the clause will automatically extend his contract.
Deco emphasized that, regardless of the clause, the club is committed to continuing their collaboration with Lewandowski - but ultimately, the decision rests with the player.
"We're clear that we want him to stay, but Robert isn't just a Barca player; he's a global figure, one of the best forwards in football history. I think he'll want to stay because, in addition to having a contract, we're very happy with him. But if a player doesn't want to stay, it's always difficult to keep them," he told Spanish media on Friday.
"That will be a question for Robert when the time comes, but I believe he'll stay. When you speak to him, he always talks about the future, the next season. He's very involved, feels comfortable here, as does his family, and he has plans with the club. He is one of the best professionals I have ever seen," added Deco.
FC Barcelona currently sits in third place in La Liga, trailing league leader Real Madrid by two points. Robert Lewandowski leads the scoring charts with 19 goals - three more than second-placed Kylian Mbappe. ■
