Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was eager to join Manchester United earlier in his career when he was still playing for Borussia Dortmund.
The Polish international was among the most sought-after rising stars in 2011 when he received a direct phone call from legendary Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to join the Premier League. But Borussia Dortmund and Jurgen Klopp blocked a potential move.
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Lewandowski began his career in the Polish lower leagues at age 16 before landing with top-flight Lech Poznan in 2008. He scored 41 times in 82 appearances across all competitions for the club before earning a move to Borussia Dortmund in 2010. He was a regular in Klopp’s side that won the 2010/11 Bundesliga title.
However, he wasn’t a prolific goalscorer at that stage of his career. Nevertheless, it appears that Man United and Alex Ferguson quickly saw his enormous potential and wanted to sign him around July 2011. United needed a fresh injection up front and would sign Robin van Persie to spearhead their next Premier League title charge the following year, but they also spoke to Lewandowski.
“I remember the moment exactly,” Lewandowski has now recalled in an interview with Sport Bild.
“We had a friendly with Dortmund in preparation, I think, against Bochum. I was subbed at half-time. I looked at my mobile phone in the dressing room. There was a text message with the sender +44. Ferguson had tried to call me and then sent me a message. He wanted to talk to me.
“I was still in the dressing room. I took a shower and called him back in a quiet corner. My English wasn’t as good as it is today. He has a strong Scottish accent. I was so focused on understanding what he meant! Alex Ferguson tried to be considerate and spoke slowly.
“I was 22 years old. It was a special moment. I spoke to Aki Watzke and Jurgen Klopp in the camp. I wanted to go to Man United! But they said: ‘No chance, Robert. We need you. You have to stay.”
Lewandowski stayed back and went on to score 30 goals in all competitions the next season for the first time in his career as Dortmund retained their title. He took the club to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich a year later before a free transfer to the Bavarian side in 2014. He seemed to get even better at Allianz Arena and netted 344 times in 375 games.
