Hansi Flick in the dark on Robert Lewandowski future amid transfer talk as Barcelona veteran is left on the bench in Athletic Club humiliation

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has admitted he is uncertain about Robert Lewandowski’s future at the club beyond this summer, casting doubt on the veteran striker’s long-term status. The comments came after a stunning 5-0 demolition of Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup, a match where the Polish international was surprisingly left among the substitutes.

Flick refuses to guarantee Lewandowski stay

The celebrations following Barcelona’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Athletic Club in Jeddah have been accompanied by fresh questions regarding the hierarchy of the squad. While the Catalan giants produced a devastating attacking performance to book their place in Sunday’s final, they did so without their most recognisable goalscorer in the starting line-up.

Lewandowski, who has been the focal point of the Blaugrana attack since his arrival, was restricted to a watching brief for the majority of the encounter. Flick opted to rotate his side, a decision that was vindicated by the result but one that has inevitably fuelled speculation about the 37-year-old’s standing at the Camp Nou.

When pressed on whether Lewandowski would still be leading the line for the club next season, Flick offered a candid but non-committal response that hinted at potential changes in the summer.

“If you ask about next season, I don’t know. I’m happy with Lewandowski and his work. He’s at a good level,” Flick told reporters during his post-match press conference.

Lewandowski’s contract expires at the end of the season and there has been much speculation regarding his future, with teams from Saudi Arabia said to be lining up bids for him. Meanwhile, AC Milan reportedly aim to unite him with ex-Real Madrid star Luka Modric and other teams are expected to come in for the Poland international.

The ex-Bayern Munich striker cast doubt on his future recently, saying at the end of December: “I still have time to make a decision. Right now, I don’t know where I want to play. There’s no need to think about it yet. I don’t know which direction to take, but I don’t have any pressure.

“I am not talking to the coach about interested clubs. It’s not about cutting my salary in half. A lot depends on the club’s plan and what I want.”