“I said yes to Man United”: Lewandowski explains why

Robert Lewandowski has admitted that he gave Manchester United the green light to sign him in 2012, but his former club Borussia Dortmund refused to let the striker leave.

The prolific Poland international established himself as one of Europe’s hottest properties during his early years at Dortmund, having previously excelled in his homeland with Znicz Pruszkow and Lech Poznan.

Two years after a volcanic ash cloud over Iceland scuppered a potential move to Blackburn Rovers – managed by Sam Allardyce at the time – the prospect of a transfer to Man United came in 2012 after Lewandowski scored 30 goals in 47 games for Dortmund in the 2011-12 season.

After being pipped to the Premier League title by bitter rivals Manchester City on goal difference in 2011-12, Man United targeted a new centre-forward and eventually signed Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, who fired the Red Devils back to the summit of English football the following season.

However, Man United may not have pursued a deal for Van Persie had they been given clearance to sign Lewandowski, who has revealed that he wanted to make the move to Old Trafford.

Lewandowski: ‘Dortmund could not sell me to Man United’

Speaking in an interview with BBC Sport, Lewandowski said: “To Manchester United I decided and said yes. I wanted to join Manchester United, to see Alex Ferguson.”

However, Dortmund refused to part ways with their star striker, who remained at the club until he joined German rivals Bayern Munich in July 2014 on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract.

Lewandowski, who scored 64 goals across his final two seasons at Dortmund, added: “They could not sell me, because they knew if I stayed they could earn more money, and that I could wait maybe one or two more years.

“But it is true that I said yes to Manchester United.”

He continued: “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.

“I don’t have this kind of feeling that I missed something, because every move or decision…I made because I wanted it.”

Lewandowski one of the most prolific goalscorers of his generation

Lewandowski has still enjoyed an impressive career at the highest level in Europe, spending eight years at Bayern and scoring 344 goals in 375 games to become the club’s second-highest scorer of all time before joining Barcelona in 2022.

At Barca, Lewandowski has found the net 101 times in 147 appearances across all competitions, including 42 strikes in 52 matches last season.

Lewandowski, who turns 37 next week, fired Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to the La Liga title in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 27 goals in 34 games, while he also netted 11 goals in 13 outings in the Champions League en route to the semi-finals.

Across his illustrious 19-year professional club career, Lewandowski has scored 610 goals and has won 13 league titles, while he is also Poland’s all-time record scorer (58) and appearance-maker (158) at international level.

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