How they went to cheat Barcelona through a Cypriot bank for the transfer of Lewandowski

An incredible story from the recent past was brought to light by the radio program SER Catalunya. OR Barcelona he almost became a victim of fraud by an unknown man, who pretending to be his representative Robert Lewandowski appeared asking for commission money via e-mail in the summer of 2022.

According to Catalan radio, in fact, “Barca” initially stepped on it, as it instructed the transfer of 1 million euros to a Cypriot bank to the man who claimed online to be the agent of the Polish forward, Pini Zahavi. The e-mail that reached the Barcelona offices included an account number and the name Michael Gerardus Hermanus Demon, posing as a lawyer.

The account in question had been opened some time before by the person who was to receive the money. In fact, the Catalan club made the deposit of 1 million euros, however the money was never disbursed. The bank blocked the process considering it high risk, as the specific account had no mobility, and no document justifying the payment had been presented. The astute man, who apparently wanted to deceive Barcelona, ​​exerted pressure with phone calls to the bank claiming to be Zahavi and also threatening via mail that he would report the club to UEFA by canceling the transfer. Fortunately for “Barca”, the bank officials did not give in to the pressurethe money was never disbursed but was eventually returned to the club, with the account permanently closed in October 2022.

Zahavi, who has received 10% (10.4 million euros) as commission for the four-year €104 million contract of the Polish forward, confirmed that he informed Barcelona that he had never sent an email demanding money himself, while he decided not to proceed with a complaint considering that the Catalan club would do it.

As for Michael Gerardus Hermanus Demon, who presented himself as a mediator, after investigations it was found that he is not a certified lawyer in any European country. A man with that name, aged 51, was spotted in Arnhem, Holland, with a photo of a visit to Camp Nou on social media. However, it was not proven that he was involved in the attempt to deceive Barcelona and most likely the astute who attempted to grab the money “stole” his identity to cover his tracks.