A new development is unfolding behind the scenes at Manchester United. According to the Mirror, co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has blocked the potential arrival of Robert Lewandowski, the star striker from FC Barcelona. This refusal comes despite the strong interest of the Red Devils’ new manager, Ruben Amorim, who wanted to make the Polish striker a cornerstone of his sporting project.
At 37, Lewandowski remains under contract with Barcelona until 2026, but his future in Catalonia seems uncertain. The player, although still performing well, is going through a period of transition within a rejuvenated Barça side. Amorim saw him as an ideal mentor to guide United’s young talents, but the club’s management decided otherwise, believing that priority should be given to younger signings with high resale potential.
Having recently taken over as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim had already begun planning a squad overhaul. The Portuguese coach, known for his modern tactical approach and his ability to develop young players, nevertheless wanted to add an experienced leader to his team, someone capable of bringing character and a winning mentality. According to sources close to the club, Amorim believed that Robert Lewandowski perfectly filled this role. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona striker, in his view, embodies the very definition of professionalism and discipline. The manager believed that such a figure could help young forwards like Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho take the next step in their mental and technical development.
The Portuguese coach reportedly even presented the board with a detailed plan for integrating the Polish striker, explaining that his arrival was not solely motivated by the pursuit of goals, but by a comprehensive development project. “Amorim considers Lewandowski a role model.” “He wanted to draw on his experience to establish a demanding and competitive work culture,” a source close to the staff told the British press. But the management tells a different story: Jim Ratcliffe and his team now want to break with the costly and unprofitable recruitment policies of the past.
Since officially acquiring a stake in Manchester United, Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear that he intends to fundamentally reform the club’s sporting policy. The British billionaire, owner of the INEOS group, wants to put an end to the long-standing strategy of recruiting aging stars on exorbitant salaries, without any real long-term vision. According to the Mirror, Ratcliffe believes that signing a 37-year-old player, even one of Lewandowski’s stature, would run counter to this new direction. For him, United must focus on younger players, capable of making an immediate impact but also of contributing over the long term.
This choice reflects a desire for financial and sporting rationalization. Club officials believe the era of exorbitant contracts for fading stars—as was the case with Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, and Zlatan Ibrahimović—is over. “Ratcliffe wants to build a sustainable model. He respects legends like Lewandowski, but his plan is based on youth, speed, and financial coherence,” a club executive told the English press.
Ratcliffe’s veto highlights the internal tensions currently gripping Manchester United. On one side, Ruben Amorim wants a team capable of immediately competing with the Premier League’s top sides. On the other, the board prefers a model based on youth and efficiency. Amorim, 39, built his reputation at Sporting Lisbon thanks to his work with promising young talents like Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Mendes, and Gonçalo Inácio. But he believes that a successful dressing room also needs experienced players capable of mentoring and inspiring younger players.
For him, Lewandowski represented the perfect balance of charisma, experience, and effectiveness. The Polish striker, still performing at a high level despite his age, scored over 40 goals in all competitions during his last two seasons at Barcelona and maintains impressive physical condition. However, Ratcliffe seems determined to avoid any emotionally charged decisions. For several months, he has been repeating that the club must adopt a scientific and strategic approach to recruitment, based on data analysis, development potential and resale value.
