Robert Lewandowski sends Barcelona timely reminder as free transfer date nears

Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 in a La Liga thriller on Sunday to close the gap on Real Madrid to just two points, as Robert Lewandowski led the charge with a hat-trick

Barcelona were shown exactly what they'd be missing by letting go of Robert Lewandowski after their No.9 scored a hat-trick against Celta Vigo. Lewandowski, 37, has entered the final year of his contract with Barca and is on course to leave the La Liga champions on a free transfer at the end this season.

The Poland captain hadn't started a match for over a month after picking up an injury while on international duty. But Lewandowski was named in the starting line-up for Sunday's trip across the north of Spain.

With just 10 minutes on the clock, Lewandowski fired home a penalty, having missed his previous one during last month's 4-1 defeat away to Sevilla. After Celta's rapid equaliser, the striker got on the end of a teasing Marcus Rashford cross and prodded home.

The hosts levelled the scores once again before Lamine Yamal restored Barcelona's lead in first-half stoppage time. Hansi Flick's side were more comfortable in the second 45 and imposed their dominance, with Frenkie de Jong pulling the strings.

As Rashford swung in a corner with less than 20 minutes to go, Lewandowski rose highest, flicking the ball in off the far post to complete his hat-trick. The former Bayern Munich marksman completed the full game and helped Barcelona see out the 4-2 victory following De Jong's contentious sending off.

Lewandowski's goals and all-round performance, helping his team in both attack and defence, showed why Flick continues to value the veteran, who's one of Barcelona's highest-paid players. Last week, ahead of their 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League, the Barca boss said at the end of his press conference: "No one has asked me about Robert.

"I've worked with him for more than four years, and I've never had a player more professional than him. When he got injured, I thought he'd be out for five weeks, but whatever he has in his DNA, he came back much sooner."

Lewandowski, who is now averaging one goal every 64 minutes in La Liga this season, seems in no rush to decide his future, with AC Milan and clubs in Saudi Arabia reportedly interested. "I feel good. Physically, I feel very good," the 37-year-old declared last week.

"I'm playing a few minutes with the team, and for me, the most important thing is how I can help my team win the match. As for my future, I'm calm. I'm thinking about what's best for me.

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"For now, I have things to work on. I only have the club and the national team on my mind. To do better and score goals. A lot can happen in life. But I'm happy and focused this season on scoring goals and winning titles."

Lewandowski's focus is now on helping Poland in their World Cup qualifying campaign, as they host the Netherlands on Friday before travelling to Malta next Monday, needing one point to secure a play-off berth. Barca face Athletic Bilbao in their first game after the break and it's hoped that the fixture can be played at the newly renovated Camp Nou with a reduced capacity of 45,000.