Lewandowski is too old for this kind of thing.

BarcelonaHansi Flick is not a big fan of the cruyffadesIt's one thing to trust young players and experiment with the starting eleven when there are injuries or players need a rest. It's quite another to have the starting lineup for days when big things are at stake. One of the club's unsung heroes is Robert Lewandowski. Or rather, he used to be. Age and injuries have diminished the Polish striker's performance, and at 37, he's in the final year of his contract with Barça. He was already a substitute in the Super Cup semi-final and will most likely start the final against Real Madrid on the bench as well, where it's expected that The attacking reference point is Ferran Torres

"It's the circle of life," say those in the sporting hierarchy, where everyone sees that Lewandowski's glory days at the elite level are drawing to a close, no matter how hard the Pole tries to maintain his form. Deep down, he hasn't lost his scoring touch, but it's becoming increasingly difficult for him to handle two matches a week. And, above all, there's Flick's demanding approach, which requires the forwards to press forward and push the defensive line up into midfield. This is where he's at a clear disadvantage compared to Ferran. Until now, the Shark was criticized for being less effective in front of goal, but this season the numbers are different: Ferran has played 24 matches (1,476 minutes) and scored 14 goals, which is one goal every 105 minutes. Exactly the same average as Lewandowski, who has scored 9 goals in 942 minutes this season (also one every 105 minutes).

Flick spoke with Lewandowski face-to-face and admitted to being "very honest" with the player, whom he already knew from his previous stint at Bayern Munich. The club was also honest, meeting with them in the summer to clarify things and avoid misunderstandings in the locker room or on the pitch. Despite having a firm offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, Lewandowski didn't want to leave Barça because he wanted quality training and playing time in preparation for the World Cup – in which Poland's qualification is not yet guaranteed. The Catalan club was happy for the striker to stay, maintaining his salary – one of the highest in the squad – as long as he accepted a secondary role, even in finals like this Sunday's. "He's still a goalscorer and a good brand," they say at Camp Nou.

Because yes, the Pole is still one killerThis season he has scored nine goals, but of the 19 matches played, only 10 have been as a starter. Age is taking its toll, and injuries are a clear indication of this. In his eight years at Bayern Munich, Lewandowski missed 26 matches. At Barça, in three and a half seasons, he has missed 22. This season alone, he has missed five. One of them was the league Clásico at the Bernabéu. This ordeal caused him to miss 10 matches last season, including the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter (3-3). In the return leg in Milan, he played extra time despite discomfort, and aside from not scoring, he suffered a relapse and missed the following match as well, where Barça clinched the league title by defeating Real Madrid at Montjuïc (4-3). That day, Lamine, Ferran Torres, and Raphinha played, with Raphinha ultimately becoming the Blaugrana's main attacking threat.

Lewandowski has offers from Saudi Arabia and the United States for next season

"He helped us get back on our feet, and we should be very grateful. From here, we have to weigh everything up before making a decision," sources in the Barcelona offices added. Most sources consulted are convinced that Lewandowski will be leaving in the summer when his contract expires. But the decision isn't final. In fact, the technical staff, headed by Deco, are resigned to considering him a lost cause while they look for a suitable replacement. That's why they've considered the option of him renewing for another season, although that would require a significant pay cut; something he's not at all keen on, especially given the enticing offers from other countries, both from Saudi Arabia – Al-Hilal is still knocking – and the United States.

In fact, Saudi Arabia's insistence is so strong that Al-Hilal – the team managed by Simone Inzaghi, which will loan João Cancelo to Barça until the end of the season – had proposed that Lewandowski join them during this winter transfer window. The striker has again declined the offer, because his future lies more in exploring the American route, where, through his agent, he has already begun talks with the Chicago Fire. Furthermore, Barça didn't want to let him go mid-season either. "Even though he might not play much, Flick trusts him and sees him as a luxury substitute to come on in the second half," sources from Sant Joan Despí point out. Exactly what he did in the derby against Espanyol, where he contributed from the bench to seal the victory at the RCDE Stadium. And what could happen in the Super Cup final against Real Madrid.