Sir Alex Ferguson riled Jurgen Klopp with sneakily discreet phone call

Robert Lewandowski has recalled how he wanted to join Manchester United following a sneaky phone call from Old Trafford great Sir Alex Ferguson. The Barcelona frontman has never had the chance to test himself on English shores and it’s the one regret of his career as the stars simply failed to align for the Poland international.

During his time under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski had begun to take the Bundesliga by storm after making an instant impact in Germany following his transfer from Lech Poznan.

And his goalscoring exploits didn’t go unnoticed as it has now emerged that former United boss Ferguson attempted to engineer a transfer.

Lewandowski has now revealed he held a telephone conversation with the 13-time Premier League-winning boss, who convinced him that he was ready to pursue a dream move to United.

“I remember the moment exactly. We had a friendly with Dortmund in preparation, I think against Bochum. I was subbed at half-time,” Lewandowski told Bild.

“I looked at my mobile phone in the dressing room. There was a text message with the sender +44. 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! Alex Ferguson tried to be considerate, spoke slowly. I was 22 years old, it was a special moment.”

Following consultation with his agitated manager, Klopp, Lewandowski was told he would be going nowhere meaning United were forced to look elsewhere.

He continued: I spoke to Aki Watzke and 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.”

Lewandowski would win back-to-back Bundesliga titles at Signal Iduna Park and the DFB-Pokal in 2012 before earning a controversial move to rivals Bayern Munich.

The rest, as they say, is history having won eight successive Bundesliga titles in Bavaria, three Pokals, five German Super Cups and the Champions League in 2020 before his move to Barcelona last summer.

Lewandowski’s failed move to United is not the only time he has been denied the chance to move to England after nearly joining Blackburn Rovers during his time with Lech Poznan.

The Polish striker was due to travel to Lancashire in 2010 to speak with Rovers before the explosion of Icelandic volcano Eyjafallajokul scuppered the deal.

Air-travel around Europe was suspended for several weeks meaning Sam Allardyce was forced to move onto other targets – much like Ferguson just a few years later.

Lewandowski is flying this season with Barcelona having netted 17 times in 23 matches for the Catalan giants in La Liga.

Barca are currently 12 points clear at the top of La Liga and the club also have a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on the cards on Wednesdays evening against Real Madrid as Osasuna await the winners in the final.