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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Jamie Spencer

‘Genuinely Crazy'—How Chicago Fire Convinced Robert Lewandowski to Head to MLS

Robert Lewandowski Chicago MLS Fire Pini Zahavi FC Barcelona AS Deco Hansi Flick Leo Messi

Robert Lewandowski’s agent has revealed that a move to MLS wasn’t actually the Pole’s first choice this summer, but the Chicago Fire’s “genuinely crazy” desire to agree a deal was a contributing factor in the move becoming a reality.

Pini Zahavi said his client “wanted to stay” at Barcelona in January 2026 when there was an offer to go to Saudi Arabia worth $114 million (€100 million) per season. But, at that stage, Lewandowski was still “waiting for Barça” to decide their position on his future.

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