Robert Lewandowski has reportedly demanded a staggering €30m per year to join either Juventus or AC Milan this summer – and the number alone tells you why this deal is proving so difficult to get over the line. With his Barcelona contract expiring in June, the 37-year-old is available on a free transfer, but the wage bill attached to him is proving every bit as daunting as a transfer fee would have been.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Lewandowski’s specific ask from the 2 Serie A giants is €8m net per season – which, once taxes and add-ons are factored in, pushes the gross figure toward that €30m annual territory. For clubs operating under serious financial discipline, that is a colossal number to stomach for a player who turns 38 in August.
Robert Lewandowski Set to Leave Barcelona
Lewandowski’s time at Barcelona looks to be coming to an end whether both parties like it or not. His contract runs out in June 2026, and while Barcelona have discussed a short-term extension, any renewal would reportedly come with major wage reductions – something that has only accelerated the hunt for a new club.
Lewandowski himself has been characteristically measured on the subject. “I will soon be ready to decide which direction to take,” he said recently. “I don’t know where I’ll be in a few months.” That level of openness, from a player who has been among Europe’s elite strikers for over a decade, signals that a Barcelona exit is a genuine possibility rather than football gossip.
For a deeper look at how the situation developed, our piece on Lewandowski’s Barcelona exit and Juventus interest covers the build-up in full. The short version: Barcelona want to rebuild younger, the finances don’t add up for a renewal on his terms, and Lewandowski knows it.
€8m Demand Creates a Massive Hurdle for Serie A Clubs
To put the salary demand into context – Juventus have set an internal wage ceiling of approximately €7m per season, the figure Kenan Yildiz will earn following his recent contract extension. The Bianconeri are willing to make exceptions, with Bernardo Silva reportedly one such case, but pushing beyond that cap for a 37-year-old striker is a very different conversation.
Lewandowski is said to be currently earning around €13m net per season at Barcelona, so any Serie A move already represents a significant pay cut on his end. The gap between what he wants and what Italian clubs are realistically prepared to offer is still meaningful, and both Juventus and Milan would need to substantially restructure their wage models – or make a calculated exception – to get a deal done.
Juventus Eye Lewandowski as Strike Leader
Juventus’s interest is real and structured. Agent Pini Zahavi has held meetings with Juventus representatives in recent weeks, and as our report on those crucial agent talks outlines, the Old Lady are genuinely exploring whether a deal can be made to work. Director Damien Comolli is reportedly modelling a potential approach after Milan’s successful free transfer of Luka Modric – a veteran raid that paid off handsomely.
The logic from a Juventus perspective is straightforward: Lewandowski’s goal record remains elite, with 17 goals and 3 assists across 39 games for Barcelona this season. That output, on a free transfer, is the kind of short-term impact signing that can shift a title race.
But the salary gap remains the obstacle. Until Lewandowski or his representatives move toward the €7m ceiling – or Juventus decide he is worth a notable exception – this one stays in the freezer.
AC Milan Also in the Race – But Running Out of Patience
AC Milan have also been in contact through Zahavi, but Gazzetta reported in April that the Rossoneri are already sizing up alternatives – with Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth emerging as a more financially palatable option. That tells its own story about where Milan’s confidence levels currently sit.
Milan’s wage ceiling is no less rigid than Juventus’s, and with the Sorloth option on the table, they appear less inclined to wait for Lewandowski to soften his position. If the Pole doesn’t move quickly, Milan may move on entirely.
MLS and Other Options Remain on the Table
Serie A is not the only hand in play. Chicago Fire have reportedly tabled an offer worth around €7m per season, matching the Italian clubs’ ceiling but potentially sweetened by the lifestyle pull of the United States. Lewandowski has already rejected advances from Fenerbahce and turned down several lucrative Saudi Pro League approaches – which at least signals he wants to remain competitive at the highest level.
Zahavi is also shopping David Alaba to Serie A clubs as part of his broader Italian market push, suggesting Lewandowski’s decision may come as part of a wider summer reshuffle. Lewandowski himself appears to be delaying any final call until Barcelona’s season concludes – but the coming weeks will force his hand, and when he decides, it will reshape Barcelona’s own summer planning overnight.
