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

Many shot fans will beryllium alert of nan communicative of nan volcanic ash unreality that scuppered Robert Lewandowski's potential move to Blackburn Rovers - but location was different nine successful England nan striker wishes he had joined.

"To Manchester United I decided and said yes," he told BBC Sport. "I wanted to subordinate Manchester United, to spot Alex Ferguson."

The imaginable of a move to nan Red Devils came successful 2012, erstwhile Lewandowski was scoring prolifically astatine Borussia Dortmund - and 2 years aft a volcanic eruption successful Iceland had put paid to his Blackburn switch.

However, nan German nine simply did not want to fto their talismanic striker go.

"They could not waste me," Lewandowski said. "Because they knew if I stayed they could gain much money, and that I could hold possibly 1 aliases 2 much years.

"But it is existent that I said yes to Manchester United."

While that move grounded to materialise, Lewandowski has enjoyed a stellar profession astatine immoderate of Europe's biggest clubs, winning nan Champions League pinch Bayern Munich and La Liga doubly astatine his existent nine Barcelona.

At 37 he has nary plans to discontinue immoderate clip soon, but accepts a Premier League opportunity has astir apt passed him by.

Speaking successful an question and reply pinch Liam MacDevitt, Lewandowski added: "Maybe it could beryllium a regret [not to play successful nan Premier League].

"But erstwhile I americium looking backmost [having] played for Bayern Munich, Dortmund and now Barcelona I person to opportunity I americium very happy pinch my career.

"I don't person this benignant of emotion that I missed something, because each move aliases decision... I made because I wanted it."

Lewandowski, who has scored much than 700 profession goals for nine and country, is preparing for his 22nd play arsenic a professional.

He is now nan aged caput successful a young Barcelona squad featuring ultimate talents for illustration Lamine Yamal, but nan Poland world believes he still has plentifulness to offer.

"When I spot that I still don't person to drawback nan young guys, that they still person to drawback me, it intends this adjacent play tin besides beryllium very good," he said.

"I americium still location to show nan champion capacity from myself."

Lamine Yamal was not moreover calved erstwhile Lewandowski's profession began, but contempt being 19 years his senior, nan striker believes he is still learning from younger players.

"I understood that I cannot conflict pinch them but I tin thief them and they tin besides thief me," Lewandowski said.

"I study from them a lot. I didn't deliberation it would hap for illustration that."

Lamine Yamal is wide viewed arsenic a early superstar, and Lewandowski said he could spot nan winger was typical from nan infinitesimal he trained pinch nan first squad aged conscionable 15.

"It is nan first clip successful my life I saw aft 50 minutes that he had thing special," he said.

"I didn't judge it because I didn't spot this benignant of subordinate astatine this property - I thought this is intolerable astatine 15."

The latest nominees for nan Ballon d'Or person been announced, and for Lewandowski this clip of twelvemonth will beryllium a reminder of conscionable really adjacent he came to winning nan award.

He was among nan favourites for nan 2020 version which was cancelled because of nan Covid-19 pandemic.

A twelvemonth later he vanished runner-up to Lionel Messi for nan main prize, and was named striker of nan twelvemonth aft a record-breaking play erstwhile he scored 41 convention goals.

"I was successful nan champion infinitesimal of my career, I won everything pinch my club," he said.

"I deliberation nan difficult point pinch that lawsuit is until now I don't cognize why."

On who could triumph it this year, Lewandowski added: "You person truthful galore players now who tin [win nan Ballon d'Or].

"Lamine Yamal's play was unthinkable but successful nan extremity it depends what is astir important. He still has a batch of time, if not this twelvemonth possibly adjacent year.

"Raphinha besides had an astonishing season. We person players who tin beryllium 1 of nan favourites to triumph this benignant of title."

Lewandowski has played nether immoderate starring managers during his profession and is presently moving nether Hansi Flick, who was besides successful complaint during his trophy-laden spell astatine Bayern Munich.

But it is erstwhile Liverpool leader Jurgen Klopp - who Lewandowski played nether astatine Dortmund - who had nan biggest power connected nan striker.

"When I moved to Dortmund I was a very young guy, I mislaid my begetter erstwhile I was 16," he said.

"I for judge was a boy who was much closed, I didn't want to speak astir my emotion.

"However, aft a fewer years I met personification who I don't want to opportunity was for illustration a begetter but similar.

"Maybe aft truthful galore years nan benignant of speech that I missed pinch my father, I had pinch Jurgen.

"I retrieve nan speech until now because it changed my life, it changed my shot life. I put my emotion out, I put retired nan words I had kept successful for a fewer years and aft this I felt freedom.

"Maybe because of this I started to play amended and better."