Superstar striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed that he “wanted to join Manchester United” earlier in his career and even got the all-important phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson.
If you listen closely, you can hear half of Manchester screaming with regret…
Yes, according to the prolific Barcelona forward and Poland international, he could have been on the verge of signing for Man United back in 2011 and his early days in the Bundesliga.
Speaking to German outlet Sport Bild via Sport Witness on Wednesday, 5 April, the 34-year-old detailed how he had a missed call from Sir Alex himself mid-way through a game. Imagine checking your phone and seeing that name pop up.
🚨🇵🇱 Robert Lewandowski when he was at Dortmund:
“I wanted to go to Man United! But Dortmund said: ‘No chance, Robert. We need you. You have to stay.” #MUFCpic.twitter.com/AtNDWXaAx0
Lewandowski at United would’ve been quite the sight.
“I remember the moment exactly”, he said; “We had a friendly with [Borussia] Dortmund in preparation [for the season], I think against Bochum. I was subbed at half-time.
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“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! [He] tried to be considerate and spoke slowly.”
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The current La Liga top scorer was just 22 at the time and admitted “it was a special moment” in his career. He went on to explain how he spoke to CEO Aki Watzke and then-head coach Jürgen Klopp, insisting that he wanted to move to United, but they said: “No chance… We need you. You have to stay”.
It doesn’t bear thinking about what one of the most elite number nines in Europe could have done under Sir Alex and in that United squad back them. Guess we’ll never know; we can’t see him making a surprise move to Manchester in these last few years of his career.
Lewandowski went on to score 103 goals and 42 assists in 187 games for Dortmund, not to mention a whopping 344 in 375, plus 72 assists for serial German champions Bayern Munich before signing for Barcelona last year — oh yeah, and two Gerd Müller Trophies as well. Yeah, not a bad player…
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One of the greatest to have somehow never won a Ballon d’Or (yet).
It goes without saying that we would have loved to the Polish marksman in the Premier League, be it at Old Trafford or otherwise, and United probably wouldn’t still be shopping around for a centre-forward like they are now. Question is, will they once again miss out on one of the best strikers in the world right now?
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
5th April 2023 
