Former Barcelona striker was close to Real Madrid move, reveals ex-agent: ‘Was about to sign a contract’ | OneFootball

Robert Lewandowski’s dreamy spell at Barcelona came to an end this summer, as he left the club after four years of success. In just four years, the Pole scored as many as 120 goals, notably joining the list of the club’s top ten all-time goalscorers.

However, Lewandowski’s career could have panned out differently, as the player was once close to joining Real Madrid. At least that is according to his former agent, Cezary Kucharski.

Lewandowski’s former agent on Real Madrid move

Kucharski, who represented Lewandowski for much of his career, has lifted the lid on just how serious Real Madrid’s long-standing interest in the forward was, and why a move never materialised.

“Yes, Robert was about to sign a contract with Real Madrid. It was two or three weeks before his transfer to Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund was announced,” Kucharski said (h/t SPORT).

“Basically, he wanted to terminate his contract with Bayern and go to Real Madrid. The conditions there were 20% better. This determined that he became Bayern’s main star and Real Madrid’s substitute.”

Lewandowski had a dreamy spell at Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

The agent admitted there was significant pressure for the deal to go through, but he ultimately advised against it.

“Those around him put a lot of pressure on him to leave. I thought it was important to keep my word. It’s better to be number one at Bayern than number 11 or 12 at Real Madrid,” he added.

According to Kucharski, Real Madrid never stopped monitoring Lewandowski’s situation, with the club enquiring about his availability year after year right up until the agent’s professional relationship with the player ended.

“Basically, every year Real Madrid asked me what was happening, what the situation was with Robert. Ten days before our separation was publicly announced, I was in Madrid. It was the winter of 2018 and I was talking to Florentino Perez’s right-hand man.

“He told me that if I opened the door to Bayern, they would want to make a serious offer,” he said.

Lewandowski is a celebrated figure at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Barcelona chapter

Despite Real Madrid’s persistent interest, Lewandowski’s eventual move to Spain came with Barcelona, a club he joined in 2022 despite their economic and results-based difficulties at the time.

The Pole had always wanted to play in La Liga and did not hesitate when the opportunity at Barcelona arose.

He adapted seamlessly and flourished as a goalscorer at the Camp Nou, cementing his legacy as one of the most prolific strikers of his generation.