Lewandowski’s biography uncovers Barcelona’s unusual demand he never saw coming – ‘We need you to stop…’

A new biography of Robert Lewandowski has shed light on one of the most unexpected stories from Barcelona’s recent history. 

The book, titled “Lewandowski. Prawdziwy” (“Lewandowski. The Real Deal”), is written by Polish journalist Sebastian Staszewski, who has stepped into the spotlight after revealing an incident that has stunned everyone.

Staszewski explains that, according to his research, Lewandowski found himself at the centre of a remarkable moment during the final stretch of the 2022–23 La Liga campaign. 

What’s the story?

Barcelona had already wrapped up the title, and the Polish striker was leading the league’s scoring race with 23 goals. 

With nothing left to decide competitively, the forward was reportedly asked to do something he had never experienced in his entire career. 

Setting the scene, the author recounts that during a meeting with senior club figures, Lewandowski heard an unexpected request – “Robert, we need you to stop scoring goals in the last two games.”

This revelation naturally raised eyebrows, prompting SPORT to speak directly with Staszewski about how the story came to light. 

“It’s a shocking story, I understand why it has caused such surprise. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in soccer every day. 

Lewandowski was asked not to score more goals. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

“I confirmed it with three sources. I can’t tell you who was in that office when they asked Lewy not to score any more goals. But I can tell you that Laporta wasn’t there. There were important people there. 

“It’s shocking, and it was for Robert. He’d never had this kind of request before. He’s a striker, and everyone asks him to score, not not to,” said the journalist.

While the episode might appear surreal, Staszewski added that he can at least comprehend the reasoning behind the club’s stance.

“Robert was already at the top of the scoring charts, and the championship was decided. So I can understand why Barça would ask him to do that if they were in such a difficult situation. 

“I don’t think Robert took it seriously. If he didn’t score in those two games, it wasn’t because of that, but because he couldn’t. 

“It must be said that two years later, Robert scored 27 goals and Barça had to pay the bonus. But only once, not twice.”

The episode remains one of the most surprising stories to emerge from Lewandowski’s time in Spain, which is a rare glimpse into the financial considerations a club may face, even in moments of sporting success.

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