The finer details of Robert Lewandowski's complex Barcelona contract have emerged - including the Polish striker's staggering €500million (£431m) release clause.
After courting Lewandowski for months, Barcelona finally struck a £42.5m deal to prise the 34-year-old forward away from Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
The ex- Borussia Dortmund star established himself as one of Europe's most complete strikers during his productive nine-year spell in Munich, and for that reason, Bayern were, understandably, reluctant to cash in on their prized attacking asset. But they finally relented after Lewandowski had made it clear that he was unwilling to remain in Germany.
After the formalities of the switch had been thrashed out, Lewandowski put pen-to-paper on a lavish four-year contract with Barcelona back in July - and now Què t'hi jugues, via Marca, has revealed some of the finer details of the deal that the striker bagged after quitting Bayern.
According to the details that have been revealed, Barcelona have included an eye-watering eight-figure release clause in the deal to protect their investment in Lewandowski, who is apparently set to rake in a net salary of €10m (£8.6m) this year.
That figure is set to rise to €13m (£11.2m) next season and again to €16m (£13.8m) the year after. Lewandowski's net salary is then set to revert back to the previous €13m figure for the final season of the four-year agreement he has signed, however, Barcelona are able to terminate the final year of the veteran's contract if he features in less than 55 per cent of the club's games in the penultimate year of his deal.
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There are also a series of additional incentives written into the contract; Lewandowski is in line to bank substantial bonus payments if Barcelona win the La Liga title or the Champions League during his spell at the Nou Camp - or a combination of either of the two alongside the Copa del Rey.
Lewandowski has already made an instant impression in Spain, netting five times in just four matches for Xavi Hernandez's side. And the Barca chief has already lauded the impact Lewandowski has made on the pitch; which is much more than just goals.
Xavi told DAZN last week: "Apart from the goals, I would highlight his timing. Everything that the fan does not see so much, is extraordinary. He is a natural leader; what he sees he says. It’s wonderful how he has adapted to the group. He is a born worker, an example.”
Barcelona are currently second in the La Liga table - two points behind reigning champions Real Madrid, who kept their perfect start to the season intact with a 2-1 win over Real Betis at the weekend.
