Saudi Arabia talks about five players with Barcelona during Spanish Super Cup victory

Barcelona spent most of last week in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, emerging victorious over rival Real Madrid in emphatic fashion. That will add a few million euros to their accounts, but the Saudi football empire is interested in doing more business with the Blaugrana.

After securing the signing of Franck Kessie two summers ago, Sport claim that Saudi Arabia discussed the future of five potential additions to the Barcelona squad while the Blaugrana were in Jeddah. One of them is Raphinha, heavily linked with a move to the Middle East last summer but now considered untouchable by Barcelona.

Robert Lewandowski to Ronald Araújo: “Ronald… You have to stay, at least until the end of the season. @ElDiaDespues https://t.co/hXDK6sKYzU

— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) January 13, 2025

That is not the case with Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen or Ansu Fati, who Barcelona are expected to try to leave behind in the summer. Perhaps the most interesting case is that of Robert Lewandowski, who has one year left on his contract, but could extend it for one more year until 2027 depending on the number of games he plays. The Saudi offer for Lewandowski came last summer and they are expected to try again; That deal will depend on whether Lewandowski, 37 as of next August, still wants to compete at the highest level.

The Polish striker may have been the least impressive of Barcelona’s front three this season, but he remains their top scorer with 26 goals and 3 assists in just 27 appearances so far. That makes him by far Spain’s best number nine statistically, but there is a feeling his form is slipping and Barcelona are certainly looking for long-term alternatives.