Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was ready to join Man United ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge.
Robert Lewandowski lifts the La Liga trophy aloft.
Robert Lewandowski was open to joining Manchester United in 2012.(Image: Manu Reino/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images.)
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has admitted he gave Manchester United the green light to sign him back in 2012.
On the books of German club Borussia Dortmund at the time, Lewandowski was beginning to emerge as one of Europe's best strikers after scoring 30 goals in 47 matches for the Bundesliga side during the 2011/12 campaign.
After missing out on the Premier League title to rivals Manchester City on goal difference in 2011/12, United prioritised the addition of a striker ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.
Robin van Persie, of course, arrived from Arsenal and he scored 30 goals across all competitions, including 26 in the Premier League to ensure United reclaimed their crown and he won the Golden Boot.
However, Lewandowski, who will turn 37 later this month, has revealed he "said yes" to United that summer, admitting he wanted to link up with Sir Alex Ferguson.
"To Manchester United I decided and said yes," Lewandowski told BBC Sport. "I wanted to join Manchester United, to see Alex Ferguson."
However, Dortmund were not prepared to let go of their talisman, meaning he remained at the club until he joined Bayern Munich in July 2014 on a free transfer after signing a pre-contract agreement earlier in the year. His last two seasons at Dortmund saw him plunder 64 goals.
"They could not sell me," Lewandowski added, addressing Dortmund's reluctance to lose him at the time of United's interest. "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."
Following his time at Dortmund, Lewandowski spent eight years at Bayern before joining Barcelona in 2022. Despite turning 37 next week, he scored a whopping 42 goals for the La Liga champions last term.
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