What’s next for Robert Lewandowski? MLS, Saudi, or battle with Ferran?

Robert Lewandowski's future at Barcelona is uncertain as he candidly admitted on December 27, reflecting on his struggles this season due to injuries and a shift in team dynamics.

Lewandowski's future in Barcelona is in danger after the rise of Ferran Torres as a striker.

The winter break is rarely quiet in Catalonia, but this year, the silence has been broken by a candid and somewhat somber admission from Robert Lewandowski. Speaking on December 27, the Polish veteran has officially cast his Barcelona future into doubt, confessing that he is unsure "which direction to take" as his contract enters its final months.

Ferran vs Lewandowski: A dilemma for FC Barcelona

For a player who has spent a decade as one of Europe’s most lethal finishers, the 2025/26 campaign has been a sobering reminder of the physical toll of the game. Now 37, the "Polish Goal Machine" is facing a crossroads that could see him leave the Camp Nou as early as next summer, or even sooner.

Lewandowski’s uncertainty isn't just a matter of contracts; it is a reflection of a frustrating season. Two separate injury spells a muscle fiber tear in August and a hamstring injury in October, derailed his early momentum.

While he has managed 8 goals in 18 appearances, he has struggled to find the consistent rhythm that saw him lead Barcelona to a domestic treble in 2024/25.

Perhaps more concerning for the veteran is the tactical shift under Hansi Flick. In Lewandowski’s absence, Ferran Torres has reinvented himself as a predatory central striker.

Torres has exploded this season, netting 13 goals in 22 appearances with 11 of those coming in La Liga. Only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has more goals in the Spanish top flight, leaving Lewandowski to fight for a starting spot he once owned by right.

In a recent interview with Polish journalist Bogdan Rymanowski, Lewandowski was strikingly honest about his current mindset.

"Right now, I don’t know where I want to play," Lewandowski admitted. "There’s no need to think about it yet... but I am aware that these are my last years in football."

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Saudi vs MLS: What’s the future of Lewandowski?

Crucially, the striker emphasized that his hesitation isn't about money, dismissing reports that the club is asking him to "cut his salary in half."

Instead, it appears to be a question of the club's long-term project and his own physical capacity to contribute at the highest level.

While Lewandowski ponders his next move, the rest of the world is already circling. Two distinct paths have emerged for the striker's final chapter:

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Barcelona to face Espanyol next

Barcelona returns to action on January 3 for a heated Catalan derby against Espanyol followed by the Spanish Super Cup. For Lewandowski, these matches are more than just fixtures; they are an audition to prove he can still lead the line for the Blaugrana.

With a 15-1-2 record, Barcelona sits comfortably at the top of La Liga, but the "succession planning" has clearly begun.

Whether Lewandowski stays to help guide the next generation or seeks one last payday in Riyadh or Chicago, the 2025 winter break marks the beginning of the end for one of the greatest strikers of the modern era.

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