Robert Lewandowski has revealed how Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called the centre-forward midway through a Borussia Dortmund match in an attempt to sign the striker.
The Poland international finally played at Old Trafford for the first time in February during the second leg of Barcelona's Europa League knockout round play-off tie against United. Lewandowski has now claimed he could have been playing there over a decade earlier after wanting a move to Manchester.
Instead, a transfer never transpired. The striker stayed in Germany with Dortmund before moving on to Bayern and eventually joining the Catalan club. But it all could have been different had Jurgen Klopp not stopped Lewandowski in his tracks
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“I remember the moment exactly," the striker said during an interview with Sport Bild, translated by Sport Witness. "We had a friendly with Dortmund in preparation, I think, against Bochum. I was substituted at half-time.
"I looked at my mobile phone in the dressing room. There was a text message with the sender +44. [Sir Alex] 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 [Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim] Watzke and [then head coach] 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.”
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