Juventus and Milan Transfer Market: Robert Lewandowski’s Decision Displeases Everyone
Juventus and Milan’s transfer market reaches a turning point: Robert Lewandowski, one of the most sought-after free agents of the summer, has made a decision. However, it leaves both Bianconeri and Rossoneri fans with a bitter taste in their mouths. The experienced and highly decorated Polish striker—whom both Serie A giants had dreamed of signing at the end of his stint with Barcelona—will not be continuing his career in Italy. Instead, he will play in MLS, specifically for the Chicago Fire, with confirmation coming from both the U.S. and his native Poland.
The news comes from Gregg Berhalter, head coach of the Chicago Fire, who gave an interview to Polish journalist Mateusz Skwierawski. “Lewandowski has every chance of becoming a major star in American soccer. The United States is ready for him. We’ve already shown him what we can offer him here, discussing his role and how he can help us win the championship. His career has been brilliant so far; now he could take on a new challenge,” the coach said. And, according to reports, as early as next week could be the right time to sign the contract.
This decision comes at the end of a long and tortuous decision-making process. Just a few weeks ago, in mid-May, the scenario looked quite different: according to Polish and Spanish media, the most likely destination for the striker, born in 1988, was the Saudi Pro League, with Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal in pole position and a massive offer of 90 million euros per season on the table. This scenario had quickly overshadowed both the Italian and American options, leaving Milan and Juventus watching from the sidelines.
The final twist has thus overturned the pre-deal predictions. Lewandowski, who turns 38 in August, chose the sporting challenge of MLS over the wealth of the Saudi Pro League, embracing the Chicago Fire’s project. It was a decision he had, in a way, foreshadowed back in May, when he told Canal+: “We’ll see what happens, but one thing is certain: I’ll keep playing. There might be an opportunity in a lower-tier league—I’m almost 38, but I feel physically fit, so I’m thinking about it. However, I have to keep in mind that the time may have come to play while enjoying life.”
On the Italian front, the two contenders have been definitively eliminated from the race to sign the Polish player. Juventus, which has yet to resolve the issue of replacing Dusan Vlahovic—who parted ways with the club after failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension—will now have to shift its focus decisively to other targets, such as Randal Kolo Muani or Jean-Philippe Mateta. Milan, for its part, remains on the hunt for a top-tier center forward capable of handling the dual demands of Serie A and the Champions League: Lewandowski was considered an ideal fit due to his experience and international charisma, following in the footsteps of last season’s signings Rabiot and Modric.
Finally, the intertwined fates of Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire are intriguing: the American club had already come onto the Italian transfer market’s radar in recent weeks, as Torino had set its sights on Hugo Cuypers, a Belgian striker currently playing for the Fire. The Chicago franchise is therefore set to experience a summer of great excitement, with the arrival of one of the most prolific center forwards in the history of European soccer, who is destined to radically transform the club’s profile and ambitions in MLS.
