Barcelona veteran recalls the story when he almost joined Manchester United – ‘I had said yes to them’ | OneFootball

Robert Lewandowski has revealed that his career could have taken a very different path over a decade ago, as he had agreed to join Manchester United back in 2012.

However, the move collapsed after Borussia Dortmund, his club at the time, refused to sell him.

Now preparing for his fourth season with Barcelona, Lewandowski remains one of the most lethal forwards in world football.

Yet, in an interview with the BBC, the Polish striker shared how close he was to making a switch to Old Trafford early in his career.

What’s the story?

After his second season at Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski had already attracted interest from several Premier League sides.

Blackburn Rovers had made an approach, but it was Manchester United, under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who truly caught his attention.

The striker admitted that the chance to work with Ferguson was a major motivation behind his decision to agree to the move.

“I wanted to go to Blackburn, but I have to admit that I hadn’t decided at that point that I wanted to go to Blackburn. But for Manchester United, I had decided and I had said ‘yes’ to the club.

“I wanted to sign for Manchester United, to see Sir Alex Ferguson… but at that time, in my second year at Dortmund, they couldn’t sell me because they knew that if I stayed longer, they could make more money.

“Maybe I could wait one or two more years. But it’s true that I had said ‘yes’ to Manchester United,” Lewandowski explained.

A career defined by his choice

Dortmund’s reluctance to sell was understandable at the time. The striker was in the early stages of becoming one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers, and the Bundesliga side knew his market value would only increase.

Despite missing the opportunity to play for Manchester United, Lewandowski insists that he has no regrets about how his career unfolded.

When asked if he felt he had missed the chance to experience the Premier League, the Polish captain replied: “I don’t have that feeling that I’ve missed out.”

He further explained his career decisions, saying: “Every move I’ve made has been my decision, I did it because I wanted to and not because someone else wanted it.”

If Borussia Dortmund had agreed to the sale in 2012, football history might have looked very different, and who knows, he may have never made it to Barcelona.