Robert Lewandowski's time at Barcelona may be coming to an end, and it's not hard to see why. The Polish striker, once an undisputed starter for the Blaugrana, has seen his role diminish this season, starting just 15 of 29 La Liga appearances in 2025-26. According to Piotr Urban, son of Poland manager Jan Urban, Lewandowski is ready to move on—and the influence of legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is a big part of the reason.
"You could say that he has everything in Spain: a great club, a beautiful city, prestige, money, trophies, and a happy family. On the other hand, he still has a long way to go in his career," Urban told WP Sportowe Fakty. "Robert sees that Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are performing at their best at their respective clubs, and he doesn't aspire to be a substitute either. This is the ambition that has guided his entire career."
Urban emphasized that Lewandowski's decision is about reclaiming his status as a starter, not about any falling out with Barcelona. "It is not Barcelona who renounce Lewandowski, it is Robert who leaves Barcelona. And honestly? I don't blame him," he said. "It is more profitable for Barcelona that Lewandowski stays. President Laporta himself has spoken about this in interviews. Strategically, it makes more sense. Lewandowski's position is clear to me: he is the one who resigns from Barcelona."
The veteran forward, now 37, is reportedly weighing two major options for his next move: a switch to MLS side Chicago Fire or a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. Urban believes the choice will hinge on one thing: playing time. "Robert is probably waiting to find out if he will be an undisputed starter at Barcelona. He wants to have a defined position and be the starting striker. That matters more to him than the club where he will continue his career. I'm convinced that playing a supporting role this season has been a drag on Robert."
For fans who have watched Lewandowski dominate at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, this feels like a natural next chapter. Just as Messi and Ronaldo have thrived in new environments later in their careers, Lewandowski seems determined to follow that path—proving that even at this stage, his hunger for the spotlight hasn't faded.