The Barcelona forward made the declaration in an interview with the onet.pl website on Friday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Controversy over World Cup bonuses
Lewandowski’s remarks came after news outlets reported earlier this week that the government had promised Czesław Michniewicz’s side PLN 30 million (EUR 6.4 million) in bonuses for reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup, a feat Poland had not accomplished since 1986.
Poland reached the knockouts, but crashed out of the tournament after losing 1-3 to defending champions France in the round of 16 on Sunday.
Following media controversy over the alleged bonuses, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Tuesday said the government was ready to help fund the coaching of youngsters and the construction of new football facilities, but World Cup bonuses were the responsibility of the football federation (PZPN).
'We didn't expect anything'
In Friday’s interview, Lewandowski said: “We didn’t expect anything, never demanded anything and didn’t want public money.”
He added: “We didn’t go to the World Cup for money, let me make it clear. We regard football, and above all the national team, as a source of pride. We earn our money mostly at clubs.”
The star striker went on to say, as quoted by the PAP news agency: “Playing for the national team is not a job for us. We do receive bonuses if we achieve something, but only if PZPN makes a profit from our success, in which case a proportion of the profit goes to the players.”
(pm/gs)
Source: onet.pl, PAP