Chicago Fire ‘struggling to convince’ Robert Lewandowski as Barcelona striker makes key decision

Chicago Fire’s ambitious bid to lure Robert Lewandowski away from Barcelona this summer has hit a significant roadblock, with the MLS club said to be “struggling to convince” the Polish striker and his inner circle that a move to the Midwest is the right next step.

Lewandowski, whose contract at Camp Nou enters its final months, has emerged as a prime target for both MLS and Saudi Arabian outfits looking to secure a marquee forward on a free transfer. Yet ESPN commentator and former U.S. international Janusz Michallik insists the 35-year-old’s hierarchy of preferences is clear: “The first thing to keep in mind is that if FC Barcelona offer Robert a contract for next season, there will be no discussion. Chicago Fire is only an option to consider as long as Robert leaves Barça.”

That single sentence underscores the uphill battle facing the Fire, who have enlisted head coach Gregg Berhalter in a full-court press designed to sell Lewandowski on a role that transcends the pitch. Club officials have pitched the striker as the public face of a long-term project aimed at transforming the Fire into what Michallik terms “a superclub,” a vision amplified by the 2028 unveiling of a soccer-specific stadium that ownership believes will anchor the franchise among MLS elites.

Privately, Chicago’s front-office concedes the decision may rest as much with Lewandowski’s wife, Anna, as with the player himself. Sources indicate the club has guaranteed comprehensive support for Anna’s professional endeavors in the city, hoping the family’s quality-of-life concerns can be neutralized.

Should Barcelona table an extension—reportedly contingent on a wage reduction—Michallik expects an immediate answer from Lewandowski, effectively ending the Fire’s pursuit. If no new deal materializes in Catalonia, the striker’s camp has already ruled out a return to Germany, a stay in Spain outside Barça, and a switch to Saudi Arabia on lifestyle grounds. Paris Saint-Germain, managed by Luis Enrique, are said to be targeting a different profile of attacker, while England’s leading clubs are not viewed as viable landing spots.

That leaves Italy as the lone European alternative should Lewandowski opt against remaining in La Liga or crossing the Atlantic, though no Serie A destination has yet advanced beyond preliminary interest.

For now, Chicago Fire remain “100% committed” to the chase, even as they confront the reality that their best sales pitch may still finish second to a renewed Barcelona offer.