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

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"With Manchester United, I made my decision and agreed," he shared with BBC Sport. "I was eager to join Manchester United to see Alex Ferguson."

The possibility of transferring to the Red Devils arose in 2012, during a period when Lewandowski was finding the net frequently at Borussia Dortmund - two years after an eruption in Iceland thwarted his move to Blackburn.

Yet, the German side was unwilling to part with their star striker.

"They couldn't let me go," Lewandowski mentioned. "They understood that if I remained, they could generate greater revenue, and that I had the option to wait perhaps an extra year or two.

"But it's accurate to say that I accepted Manchester United's offer."

Although that transfer did not happen, Lewandowski has thrived at several of Europe's major clubs, lifting the Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich and securing two La Liga titles with his current team, Barcelona.

At 37, he is not contemplating retirement just yet, though he recognizes that a chance in the Premier League has likely slipped away.

In a conversation with Liam MacDevitt, Lewandowski remarked, "Perhaps I might regret not experiencing the Premier League."

"But when I reflect on my career, having played for Bayern Munich, Dortmund, and now Barcelona, I must say I am very satisfied."

"I don’t harbor any feelings of missing out, as every move or choice… was made because I desired it."

'I gain valuable insights from younger players'

Lewandowski, who has netted over 700 goals in his professional career representing both club and country, is gearing up for his 22nd season as a pro.

Now the seasoned veteran in a youthful Barcelona squad showcasing remarkable talents like Lamine Yamal, the Polish international feels he still has much to contribute.

"When I notice that I still don’t have to keep up with the younger players, but rather they have to catch up with me, it indicates that this upcoming season could also be very promising," he stated.

"I am still here to deliver my best performance."

Lamine Yamal had not yet been born when Lewandowski's career commenced, yet even with a 19-year age difference, the striker believes he continues to learn from the younger athletes.

"I realized that I can't compete with them, but I can assist them, and they can assist me as well," Lewandowski noted.

"I gain a lot of knowledge from them. I never expected it to unfold this way."

Yamal is regarded as a future star, and Lewandowski expressed that he recognized the winger's exceptional talent from the first time he trained with the main squad at the age of just 15.

"In my life, it was the first instance I saw after 50 minutes that he possessed something extraordinary," he explained.

"I found it hard to believe because I had never encountered a player with such skill at that age - I thought it was impossible at 15."

When Lewandowski came close to winning the Ballon d'Or

The newest candidates for the Ballon d'Or have been revealed, and for Lewandowski, this period serves as a reminder of how narrowly he missed out on clinching the title.

He was considered one of the frontrunners for the 2020 award, which was ultimately canceled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The following year, he was the runner-up to Lionel Messi for the top honor but received the accolade of striker of the year after an extraordinary season where he netted 41 goals in the league.

"I was at the pinnacle of my career; I achieved everything with my team," he remarked.

"The challenging part about that situation is that I still don’t understand why."

Regarding potential winners for this year, Lewandowski stated, "There are so many players now capable of winning the Ballon d'Or."

"Lamine Yamal has had an exceptional season, but ultimately, it hinges on what holds the most significance. He still has plenty of time; if not this year, perhaps next year.”

“Raphinha also enjoyed an incredible season. We have players who could emerge as favorites for such an award.”

The discussion that transformed Lewandowski's career

Throughout his career, Lewandowski has been guided by some of the top coaches, and he is currently under Hansi Flick, who also managed him during his successful time at Bayern Munich.

However, it was Jurgen Klopp, his former manager at Dortmund, who had the most profound impact on the forward.

"When I joined Dortmund, I was quite young, having lost my father at the age of 16," he shared.

"I was certainly a boy who kept to himself, reluctant to express my feelings."

"But after a few years, I encountered someone whom I wouldn’t exactly call a father figure, but someone akin to that."

"Perhaps after many years, the conversation I missed having with my father took place with Jurgen."

"I still remember that conversation because it was life-altering; it transformed my footballing journey. I expressed emotions I had bottled up for years and felt an immense sense of liberation thereafter."

"Perhaps this is the reason I began to improve continuously."