How Barcelona’s wage bill opens up as Robert Lewandowski confirms exit

Q: How much money will Barcelona save with Lewandowski's departure?

Barcelona will save over €24 million in wages with Lewandowski's exit.

Q: Who are Barcelona's top targets to replace Lewandowski?

Barcelona's top targets to replace Lewandowski include Julián Álvarez, Serhou Guirassy, and Joao Pedro.

Q: What impact does Lewandowski's exit have on Barcelona's financial situation?

Lewandowski's exit improves Barcelona's financial flexibility, helping them comply with La Liga's spending rules and allowing for potential reinvestment in new players.

Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Robert Lewandowski will leave the club this summer, bringing his four-year tenure to an end. While he departs as a free agent, the split is far from a total loss for FC Barcelona. The forward’s exit frees up over €24 million in the wage bill. This will be critical in bringing in new players, or keeping existing ones. Barça had extended an offer a month ago that included cutting his salary in half alongside performance-based bonuses. Reports say that Barcelona offered a salary that was as good as most he could have gotten in Europe – though his next chapter could be in Saudi Arabia. Regardless, his exit leaves the club in much better shape when it comes to FFP. If the club manages to return to La Liga’s 1:1 spending rule by late June, that €24 million can be reinvested directly into a world-class striker. Combined with Marc-André ter Stegen’s departure, which frees up nearly another €20 million, Barça finally has some financial breathing room. The immediate domino effect lands on . Barça had paused negotiations with the forward, whose contract runs until 2027, while waiting for the Polish striker to make up his mind. With Lewandoski leaving, Torres’s place in the squad is secure. With Lewandowski out, Barcelona can aggressively pursue his replacement. It’s an open secret that the top target is ’s . But the list is long and includes ’s and . Currently, the striker market is thin – leading to inflated prices. Which brings us to . His future is still up in the air due to his €18 million net salary, which Barça previously deemed completely unsustainable. However, Joan Laporta and Deco have been trying to work out a deal with to extend his loan for another season. For their part, United are not keen on another loan. His transfer price is seen as a bargain for a forward these days, but his salary could still be problematic for the Catalans. And there may yet still be departures on the horizon. For one, Marc Casadó has struggled to cement his place this season, falling behind a resurgent , who bounced back strongly from a severe knee injury. And ’s status has plummeted. Despite holding the captain’s armband after Ter Stegen’s initial loan move to , Araújo has slipped down the defensive pecking order behind Pau Cubarsí, , and Gerard Martín.