Robert Lewandowski snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo partnership as Al-Nassr among two Saudi clubs to offer €100m salary to Barcelona forward

Polish superstar Lewandowski turned down an eye-watering €100m (£86m/$116m)-per-year salary offer from Saudi Arabia, with both Al-Hilal and Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr attempting to lure the Barca star forward this summer, according to Mundo Deportivo. The proposals, revealed by his agent Pini Zahavi and later detailed by reports from 365scoresarabic, came through an investment fund backing the Saudi Pro League clubs. Despite the record-breaking sums on the table, the 37-year-old opted to remain at Camp Nou, reaffirming his commitment to competing at the highest level in Europe.

The offers would have made Lewa one of the best-paid players in the world, placing him alongside CR7 and Neymar in the financial hierarchy of football. But rather than join Ronaldo in Riyadh or take on a starring role at Al-Hilal, Lewa prioritised his Barca career and ongoing pursuit of trophies in La Liga and the Champions League.

Lewa's rejection underlines a wider trend that while Saudi Arabia continues its aggressive pursuit of football’s elite, not every star is ready to cash in. For the Catalans, it represents an important show of loyalty at a time when the club remains financially restricted and heavily reliant on senior players like Lewa to lead the squad on the pitch.

His decision also signals the striker’s mindset at this stage of his career. At 37, he is no longer chasing every match or every record with his recent admission he is instead focusing on "quality over quantity". Staying at Camp Nou is as much about legacy and prestige as it is about ambition, with Lewandowski still hungry to compete with Europe’s best strikers and extend his glittering career at the top level.

However, Zahavi, his long-time representative, admitted that he did not “completely close the door” on a Saudi move in the future, highlighting how fast football changes.

Both Saudi giants moved quickly after Lewandowski’s snub. Al-Hilal secured Darwin Nunez from Liverpool, bolstering their frontline alongside Joao Cancelo and Malcom. Al-Nassr, already featuring Ronaldo, invested in width instead, landing Kingsley Coman from Bayern and Joao Felix from Chelsea. 

Lewandowski himself remains under contract with Barca until 2026, with a performance clause potentially extending his stay until 2027. 

Lewandowski has scored 101 goals in 147 appearances for Barcelona since joining from Bayern.

For now, Barcelona can breathe a sigh of relief, keeping the veteran attacker is crucial not just for goals but for leadership in a dressing room undergoing generational change. His presence will help bridge the gap for younger attackers like Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres, while also providing stability for Flick's squad, the immediate focus for the Blaugrana is up against Valencia on September 14.