Video: Ilkay Gundogan Playfully Takes a Shot at Robert Lewandowski with Blackburn Rovers Connection

Barcelona veterans Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan, both hailing from Germany, share a strong relationship that traces back to their time playing together in the Bundesliga. Although they came very close to winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund, their paths diverged, with Lewandowski heading to Bayern Munich and Gundogan making his way to Manchester City.

In a recent video posted by Movistar+, the camaraderie between the two players was on full display as they quizzed each other playfully. Lewandowski posed a question to Gundogan, asking him which team he was supposed to join before the infamous eruption of the Icelandic volcano.

Gundogan thought for a moment and suggested, “I read this somewhere… Was it Italy?”

Lewandowski corrected him with a grin, “It was Blackburn Rovers!”

They both shared a hearty laugh, with Gundogan joking, “Maybe if you’d gone there, you would have already won a Ballon d’Or.”

Lewandowski was a good sport about it, responding, “Did he just say that?”

Lewandowski had previously revealed that he was close to a move to Blackburn before joining Dortmund. However, the eruption of an Icelandic volcano disrupted his travel plans to England, ultimately leading to the move’s cancellation.

During his time with Bayern Munich, Lewandowski was vocal about his desire to win the Ballon d’Or, believing he deserved it during the year France Football canceled the award due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lionel Messi would later dedicate the Ballon d’Or to Lewandowski in the following year. The friendly exchange between Lewandowski and Gundogan shows that it’s a topic they can jest about.