Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona’s star striker, shared a surprising story about how close he came to joining an English Premier League giant a decade ago. The deal, however, fell through at the last minute.
The Polish forward revealed on the “Rio Ferdinand” podcast that Sir Alex Ferguson made a phone call in 2012, nearly securing his move to Manchester United during his prime years at Borussia Dortmund.
The 36-year-old explained, “I had a phone conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson, just one call, and it convinced me to join Manchester United in 2012. My English wasn’t strong back then, especially when speaking to someone like Ferguson, but I knew what to say. I told him I wanted to join United.”
Why Lewandowski’s Move Fell Apart
Lewandowski could have joined a legendary Manchester United team that included stars like Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs, and Robin van Persie. However, Borussia Dortmund refused to let go of their star striker.
The Polish striker recalled, “I spoke with Borussia Dortmund’s president, who said they wouldn’t allow me to leave because the club needed me. It wasn’t the right time for the move.”
He added, “Dortmund’s decision blocked the transfer, but I wanted to join Manchester United. It’s impossible to ignore a call from Ferguson and say no to playing under him. I was only 22 and happy in Germany, but it was Manchester United during their peak.”
United’s Success and Lewandowski’s Career
That same season, Manchester United won the Premier League title in 2012-2013, their last league triumph to date, even though they remain the record holders with 20 titles.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski played 187 games for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 103 goals. He helped the club win two Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2014 on a free transfer.
With Bayern, he won the Bundesliga eight more times and solidified his legacy in German football. In 2022, he moved to Barcelona to continue his remarkable career.
