Robert Lewandowski has recalled the moment Alex Ferguson made an approach to bring him to , and he wanted to go, but blocked the move.
The prolific Pole was just 22 at the time and early in his Dortmund career, where he went on to shine, earning a move to and then Barcelona, becoming one of the greatest strikers in the world.
Manchester United saw his potential and Ferguson tried to swoop, but even though Lewandowski was keen on a switch to Old Trafford, then Dortmund manager was not having it.
‘I remember the moment exactly. We had a friendly with Dortmund in preparation, I think against Bochum,’ Lewandowski told .
‘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. Ferguson tried to be considerate, 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 Utd. But they said: “No chance, Robert. We need you. You have to stay”.’
Lewandowski also remembered the time Klopp hinted that joining him at Liverpool wouldn’t be the worst idea, when the Reds played Bayern in a friendly in 2017, but that was a non-starter.
‘We spoke on that occasion. Klopp asked me, “Don’t you want to come to Liverpool?” We looked at each other, then I laughed,’ said the 34-year-old.
‘I don’t know if he was totally serious. But going to Liverpool was never in my mind.’
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