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Robert Lewandowski's representative has disclosed that a transfer to MLS was not actually the Polish striker's preferred destination this summer, though Chicago Fire's "genuinely crazy" determination to secure the deal played a significant role in making it happen.
Agent Pini Zahavi revealed that his client "wanted to remain" at Barcelona back in January 2026, when a Saudi Arabian offer worth $114 million (€100 million) per season was placed on the table. At that point, however, Lewandowski was still "waiting for Barça" to clarify their stance on his future.
The Polish forward's contract was set to expire at the end of June, but the club ultimately failed to provide the guarantees he sought regarding a regular starting role.
"In January 2026, Robert had a two-year offer worth €100 million per season. He turned it down because he wanted to remain at Barça. That offer was only on the table during the winter window; it wouldn't be available in the summer," Zahavi stated, via AS.
A Key Reason in Lewandowski's Priorities Being Elsewhere
The decision at Barcelona came from head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco, rather than club president Joan Laporta, who Zahavi said "truly adores" Lewandowski and had hoped to keep him through 2027. "Deco and Hansi Flick are the ones who shape the squad. And they couldn't promise Robert a starting spot, which mattered more to him than money."
Regarding his next destination, Zahavi says he warned Lewandowski that the €228 million (€200 million) Saudi Arabian proposal—$114 million per season over two years—would no longer be available by summer. At that time, Saudi Arabia was actually more appealing than the United States, largely due to the "convenience" it offered.
"Robert wanted to go to Saudi Arabia, primarily because of the lifestyle convenience: the minimal time difference between Riyadh and Warsaw, and the shorter travel distance to Poland compared to the United States," Zahavi explained.
"I told him that offer wouldn't be there in the summer, but he chose to wait."
How Chicago Eventually Wooed Lewandowski
Ultimately, Lewandowski chose MLS and Chicago. According to Zahavi, it was the club's relentless pursuit of the 37-year-old that made the difference.
"The Fire's leadership fought harder than any other club for him. It's rare to see a team want a player that badly," he said.
"It's difficult to put into words: they were patient, driven, and inventive. They did absolutely everything to win Lewandowski over. Everything! It wasn't an act—they were genuinely obsessed with signing him. They put forward the second-largest contract in MLS history, behind only Leo Messi's. Chicago truly wanted Robert."
Upon his arrival and first press appearance, Lewandowski noted that the city itself had made a strong impression—particularly its enormous Polish community. It is estimated that nearly 900,000 people of Polish heritage reside in the greater Chicago area, making it the largest metropolitan Polish community anywhere outside of Poland.
"When I arrived here [in Chicago] I was struck by what I saw—not just the club's potential, but the city itself, the people," Lewandowski said.
"I know that many Polish people live in Chicago. A lot. It also means for me and my family that being able to meet fellow Poles is something special, and I understand how much it means to them—the bond between the USA, or Chicago, and Poland is very, very important."
So while Poland may be geographically far closer to Riyadh than to the American Midwest, it turns out that Chicago actually feels far more like home.