Lewandowski’s Near-Miss: A Cloud-Covered Twist of Fate That Altered Football History
Reflecting on a pivotal moment in his career, Robert Lewandowski recounts the missed opportunity to join Blackburn Rovers in 2010. The Polish striker, impressed by a meeting with manager Sam Allardyce and the prospect of becoming something special, faced an unexpected obstacle – the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull eruption that disrupted European air travel.
“I even met with manager Sam Allardyce. I thought he was a nice guy and a very good coach. Allardyce was ready to bring in a young player who could become something special. He wanted to come to Poland to see me,” Lewandowski recalls. However, the natural phenomenon prevented his visit to Blackburn, ultimately altering the course of his career.
Unable to fly due to the cloud cover caused by the volcanic eruption, Lewandowski’s life took a different trajectory. Although he speculates that a move to Blackburn might have been beneficial, fate had other plans. The striker went on to join Borussia Dortmund, where he evolved into one of the world’s premier goal-scorers and a perennial Ballon d’Or contender.
While Lewandowski’s time at Barcelona has seen him fall short of his best form, the cloud-covered twist of fate in 2010 remains a fascinating chapter in the football star’s journey.
