Robert Lewandowski said ‘yes’ to Man Utd but transfer never happened - Barcelona striker explains why he missed out on Premier League move

Blackburn Rovers famously missed out on the Polish striker’s signature due to the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud that grounded flights in 2010. It has now been revealed that Lewandowski came close to heading for England again two years after that.

In 2012, after enjoying the first 30-goal season of his career at Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski registered on Sir Alex Ferguson’s recruitment radar at Old Trafford. A verbal agreement was reached, but no deal was ever done.

Lewandowski told BBC Sport of a saga that could have altered history for himself and the Red Devils: “To Manchester United I decided and said yes. I wanted to join Manchester United, to see Alex Ferguson.

“They [Dortmund] 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.”

Lewandowski spent another two seasons with BVB before joining Bayern Munich. He would go on to register 344 goals for them across eight years that delivered Bundesliga and Champions League titles.

The 36-year-old is now at Barcelona, where he remains a prolific presence, and said of never getting the chance to test himself in the Premier League: “Maybe it could be a regret [not playing in England].

“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 is currently nursing an injury with La Liga champions Barca, but a contract extension beyond the summer of 2026 has not been ruled out for a man that has hit at least 20 goals in 17 of the last 18 seasons.