Robert Lewandowski's Near-Miss with Blackburn Rovers
Football icon, Robert Lewandowski (35), is gearing up for the 2024 European Championship in Germany, representing Poland. Though the team fell short of direct participation following a 1:1 draw against the Czech Republic in qualifiers, they still have a chance through the Nations League play-offs. However, recent headlines surround Lewandowski due to a near-miss transfer.
In an exclusive interview with Times Sport, the prolific FC Barcelona striker opened up about an opportunity he nearly seized, saying: "I had the chance to join Blackburn Rovers, but I wanted to explore the training grounds first."
The prospective transfer to the English club surfaced back in 2010, during Lewandowski's tenure at Lech Poznan. With 21 goals in 34 games that season, he was an exciting prospect.
Lewandowski fondly reflected on meeting Sam Allardyce, then Blackburn Rovers manager, and considering the move. "I found him to be an excellent person, a fantastic coach. Allardyce was ready to take on a promising youngster. I thought it could be something remarkable. If I had gone to Blackburn, it would have been a unique experience," he reminisced.
However, fate had other plans. Instead of Blackburn, Lewandowski opted for Borussia Dortmund. Speaking about the change of plans, the striker explained, "I couldn't go as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. My flight was booked, but travel disruptions persisted for a week. That completely altered the course of my life. Had I gone to Blackburn, perhaps I would have stayed there."
Signing for Borussia Dortmund in 2010 for a transfer fee of nearly five million euros, Lewandowski later moved to Bayern Munich in 2014 and FC Barcelona in 2022. His tenure in the Yellow and Black team yielded an impressive haul of ten league titles, the DFB Cup four times, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.
- Despite nearing a move to Blackburn Rovers, Robert Lewandowski, now with FC Barcelona, chose Borussia Dortmund due to unforeseen travel disruptions caused by Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in 2010.
- Lewandowski fondly remembers meeting Sam Allardyce and considering Blackburn Rovers as a potential stepping stone to his stardom.
- With Lewandowski continuing to dominate the football scene, his primary focus remains steering Poland in the 2024 European Championship play-offs.
Enrichment Insights: During his negotiations with Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski passed essential medical checks and soon after, signed a four-year contract with the German club for 4.5 million euros. Subsequently, instead of opting for other clubs like Genoa and Blackburn Rovers, Lewandowski decided to join Dortmund, which turned out to be the pivotal decision in his career.
