Lewandowski's Barcelona exit: Flick calls for 'great farewell' at Camp Nou
Synopsis
After four seasons, three La Liga titles, and a Pichichi Trophy, Robert Lewandowski is leaving Barcelona — and coach Hansi Flick wants Camp Nou to give him the send-off he deserves. Sunday's clash with Real Betis is the curtain call for one of the club's most prolific modern strikers, leaving Barcelona with a summer recruitment puzzle that won't be easy to solve.
Key Takeaways
Robert Lewandowski will leave FC Barcelona at the end of the 2024-25 season after four years at the club.
Coach Hansi Flick confirmed Lewandowski will start his final home match against Real Betis at Camp Nou .
Lewandowski scored 33 goals in 46 matches across all competitions this season and won the Pichichi Trophy with 23 La Liga goals .
During his stint, he won three La Liga titles , one Copa del Rey , and three Spanish Super Cups .
Flick acknowledged replacing Lewandowski's goals and leadership will be a major challenge for the club this summer.
Hansi Flick paid an emotional tribute to departing striker Robert Lewandowski on 16 May, saying the Polish forward 'deserves a great farewell' as he prepares to leave FC Barcelona at the end of the current season. The FC Barcelona head coach made the remarks ahead of the club's La Liga fixture against Real Betis, which will serve as Lewandowski's final home appearance at Camp Nou.
Lewandowski addresses the squad
Flick confirmed that Lewandowski had personally addressed his teammates to announce his departure. 'Lewandowski spoke to the squad and said his goodbyes. It's been a great chapter for him, and he made that very clear. For me, it's been a privilege to work with him because he's a true professional,' Flick said at the pre-match press conference.
The German coach was effusive in his praise, highlighting the striker's mentality and his influence on the younger members of the squad. 'He's a role model, which is why he's still performing at this level. Now he wants a new challenge, and we respect that. He's a great person, a great player, and a fantastic example for the younger players,' Flick added.
A Camp Nou send-off confirmed
Flick confirmed that Lewandowski will start Sunday's match against Real Betis — his final outing in front of the Barcelona faithful. 'At Camp Nou, in front of our fans, he deserves a great farewell,' the coach said. The announcement has drawn an outpouring of appreciation from supporters, with the occasion expected to be a fitting send-off for one of the club's most productive strikers in recent memory.
The replacement challenge
Flick acknowledged that filling the void left by Lewandowski will be one of the club's most pressing tasks heading into the next season. 'He's scored so many goals for us. We'll miss him a lot. Now it's up to us to find a way to replace him in the future,' he said. The admission underscores the scale of the recruitment challenge facing Barcelona's sporting directors over the summer transfer window.
Lewandowski's Barcelona legacy
Robert Lewandowski announced on Saturday, 17 May that he will leave Barcelona after four seasons, during which he won three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and three Spanish Super Cups. Across all competitions this season, he scored 33 goals in 46 matches and claimed the Pichichi Trophy as the league's top scorer with 23 goals. This is the end of a chapter that repositioned the veteran Polish striker as one of La Liga's dominant forces well into his mid-thirties.
With Lewandowski seeking a new challenge, the transfer market will watch closely to see which club makes the move for one of world football's most reliable finishers. For Barcelona, the summer window just got significantly more consequential.
Point of View
And no obvious successor has been developed or identified in the squad. Flick's candid admission that 'it's up to us to find a way to replace him' signals that the sporting directorate is entering the summer window reactive rather than prepared. For a club still navigating financial constraints, landing a striker capable of 30-plus goals a season at an affordable cost is a near-impossible brief. The Pichichi Trophy exit is a prestige moment; what follows in the transfer market will be the real test of Barcelona's recovery.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Robert Lewandowski leaving Barcelona?
Lewandowski is leaving Barcelona at the end of the 2024-25 season to pursue a new challenge, as confirmed by both the player and coach Hansi Flick. He has not publicly named his next club.
What did Hansi Flick say about Lewandowski's departure?
Flick called Lewandowski 'a true professional' and 'a great person,' saying it had been a privilege to coach him. He also confirmed Lewandowski will start his final Camp Nou match against Real Betis and said he 'deserves a great farewell.'
What trophies did Lewandowski win at Barcelona?
During his four seasons at Barcelona, Lewandowski won three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and three Spanish Super Cups. He also claimed the Pichichi Trophy this season as La Liga's top scorer with 23 goals.
How many goals did Lewandowski score for Barcelona this season?
Lewandowski scored 33 goals in 46 matches across all competitions in the 2024-25 season, including 23 La Liga goals that earned him the Pichichi Trophy.
Who will replace Lewandowski at Barcelona?
No replacement has been announced. Flick acknowledged the challenge, saying the club must 'find a way to replace him in the future.' Barcelona's striker search is expected to be a central focus of the summer transfer window.
