RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick has revealed he turned down opportunities to sign Bayern Munich pair Philipp Lahm and Robert Lewandowski at separate points in his career.
Rangnick has coached a host of Bundesliga sides in recent decades before helping mastermind wealthy Leipzig's controversial rise to the 2.Bundesliga as sporting director then head coach.
Rangnick told Bild: "At the time Philipp played in midfield and I told the Bayern coach Hermann Gerland that I already have a player like him with Altin Lala.
"In retrospect, it must be said, of course, that we would have had use for Philipp Lahm."
"At the time I rejected the transfer of Robert Lewandowski," Rangnick continued.
"We felt that, with how he played in Poland, he was no better than our players [Vedad] Ibisevic, [Demba] Ba or [Chinedu] Obasi.
"Even in Dortmund, Lewandowski was not convincing in his first year. But again in retrospect, one must say, we should have thought again."
