'I said yes to them' - when Lewandowski nearly joined Man Utd

The One That Got Away: Lewandowski's Regretful Premier League Dream

A Manchester United Move, A Volcanic Ash Cloud, and Finding Freedom with Klopp

Robert Lewandowski, one of the world's most prolific strikers, has achieved almost everything imaginable in football. Champions League titles with Bayern Munich, La Liga trophies with Barcelona, a record-breaking season in Germany – his resume is stacked with success. Yet, there’s one dream that remains unfulfilled: playing in the Premier League.

"To Manchester United I decided and said yes," he told BBC Sport. "I wanted to join Manchester United, to see Alex Ferguson." This near-move came in 2012 when Lewandowski was tearing up defenses at Borussia Dortmund. But his move to Old Trafford never materialized.

“They could not sell me,” Lewandowski explained. “Because they knew if I stayed they could earn more money, and that I could wait maybe one or two more years.”

Despite this missed opportunity, Lewandowski has no regrets about his career path. "Maybe it could be a regret [not to play in the Premier League]. But when I am looking back [having] played for Bayern Munich, Dortmund and now Barcelona I have to say I am very happy with my career," he stated.

A Lasting Impact: Klopp's Words That Changed Everything

While his success speaks volumes, Lewandowski credits former Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp for a profound impact on his life. “When I moved to Dortmund I was a very young guy, I lost my father when I was 16,” he revealed. "I for sure was a boy who was more closed, I didn’t want to speak about my emotion.”

“However, after a few years I met someone who I don’t want to say was like a father but similar. Maybe after so many years the kind of conversation that I missed with my father, I had with Jurgen,” Lewandowski continued, his voice laced with emotion. “I remember the conversation until now because it changed my life, it changed my football life. I put my emotion out, I put out the words I had kept in for a few years and after this I felt freedom.”

Passing the Torch: Learning from Barcelona's Rising Stars

At 37, Lewandowski remains a force to be reckoned with. He’s now the seasoned veteran in a young Barcelona side brimming with talent like Lamine Yamal.

"When I see that I still don’t have to catch the young guys, that they still have to catch me, it means this next season can also be very good," he said confidently.

Lewandowski even acknowledges learning from his younger teammates: "I understood that I cannot fight with them but I can help them and they can also help me. I learn from them a lot."

He speaks of seeing something special in Yamal from the moment he trained with the first team at just 15. "It is the first time in my life I saw after 50 minutes that he had something special," Lewandowski recalled, almost incredulous.

A Missed Ballon d'Or Moment:

Lewandowski has been a dominant force throughout his career, coming agonizingly close to winning the coveted Ballon d'Or award. He was a favorite for the 2020 edition which was canceled due to the pandemic and finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in 2021 after a record-breaking season.

"I think the difficult thing with that case is until now I don’t know why," he said, reflecting on his near misses.

Now, as he watches another generation of talent vying for football's highest individual honor, Lewandowski offers a glimpse into what it takes to reach the top. He sees immense potential in players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, acknowledging that while this year may not be their time, the future is bright.