In 2012, Robert Lewandowski was already a rising football star, which resulted in the interest of the biggest clubs. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were already after him. There was also talk of a possible transfer to the Premier League, where Manchester United had the most to try to transfer the Pole.
Robert Lewandowski called from the corner. “I wanted to go to United!”
The Polish representative recalls his surprise when he saw a text message from Ferguson in the locker room. – I remember it perfectly. The SMS was from the number +44, which is from England. Sir Alex Ferguson tried to call me and then texted me saying he wanted to talk to me,” he said.
Of course, Lewandowski called back almost immediately. “I was still in the locker room, took a shower and called him back. I was 22 years old, it was a special moment. I then spoke with Hans-Joachim Watzke and Jurgen Klopp [wtedy był trenerem BVB – red]. I wanted to go to United! But they told me there was no chance, that they still needed me and I had to stay.
The Pole has not left Borussia for two more seasons and probably does not regret this decision. Together with Łukasz Piszczek and Jakub Błaszczykowski, they formed the famous trio from Dortmund, which was instrumental in Borussia’s advance to the Champions League final. Manchester United struggled to cope with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson shortly thereafter, and for the next few years played far below their supporters’ expectations.
Ferguson also admitted that he wanted Lewandowski
Sir Alex Ferguson already wrote in his autobiography published in 2013 that he wanted to bring Robert Lewandowski to Manchester United. The Scot then recalled. – At the end of the 2011/2012 season, I went to Berlin for the German Cup final. I wanted to look at three BVB players: Lewandowski, Kagawa and Hummels. We really wanted Lewy, but Borussia wasn’t interested.
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During the transfer saga, on the occasion of leaving Bayern Munich, the subject of Robert Lewandowski in Manchester United returned. The English media speculated that the Pole could replace Cristiano Ronaldo, whom the English wanted to get rid of at all costs. In the end, nothing came of it. Cristiano Ronaldo stayed (albeit briefly) in Manchester United, and Lewandowski went to FC Barcelona, where he fulfills his dreams and helps in the fight for the first Spanish championship since the 2018/19 season.