Transfer rumour silly-season is about to commence. Newcastle will be linked to a host of players, but none will come close to the quality of the 9 players and 1 manager listed below who Newcastle apparently approached. Take it all with a pinch of salt …
Zinedine Zidane – 1996
Zidane was offered to Newcastle United for £1.2 million, according to football agent Barry Silkman – “I offered him to Newcastle at the beginning of the 1996 season for £1.2 million. And they watched him and said that he wasn’t good enough to play in the First Division which is the Championship now. Three months later he went to Juventus for £1.2 million and two years later he went for £48 million. So I think the people at Newcastle got it slightly wrong.”
Clarence Seedorf – 1999
Sunday Mirror – 2nd May 1999
Newcastle United boss Ruud Gullit will splash out £9 million this week as he steps up his Toon Army recruiting campaign.
Dutch international Clarence Seedorf has agreed to join fellow countryman Gullit at Newcastle United in a £5.5 million deal. The Real Madrid star telephoned Gullit on Thursday to confirm that Newcastle’s personal terms are acceptable. Seedorf, regarded as one of the most cultured playmakers in Europe, has been tracked by Gullit for some time.
Rivaldo – 2002
Newcastle United could be close to signing Rivaldo from Barcelona in a £10 million deal. It was claimed yesterday that personal terms had been agreed and that the only remaining obstacle was the fee.
A Newcastle delegation, including chairman Freddy Shepherd, are understood to have met Rivaldo’s representatives last week for talks. And Shepherd and his deputy, Douglas Hall, are currently on holiday in Barcelona, where it is believed they are continuing negotiations.
A Spanish source said: “There is definitely something happening as far as Rivaldo and Barcelona are concerned and, if the Newcastle officials are here on holiday, that looks too much of a coincidence.”
Yeah, Shepherd never went to Spain just for a holiday….! >>> Freddy in Marbella
Ronaldinho – 2003 & 2007
Evening Chronicle – 19th June 2003
Freddy Shepherd presented Newcastle United’s case to Ronaldinho’s agent and brother Roberto Assis in London yesterday.
Shepherd today flatly refused to discuss his meeting with the Brazilian World Cup winner’s camp. But the details of United’s offer, including the chance to double his £19,000 weekly wage, were quickly flashed to the 23-year-old as he prepared for Brazil’s Confederations Cup match with Cameroon in the Stade de France tonight.
A United source did say today: “The chairman has met Ronaldinho’s people and put our case. We know all about Manchester United and Barcelona, but if we let things like this worry us we wouldn’t sign anybody.
“We know that we face a fight but the chairman’s attitude has always been if you don’t buy a ticket you cannot win the lottery.”
The Mirror – 5th July 2003
It’s enough to send Alex Ferguson’s infamous ‘hairdryer’ blowing through Ronaldinho’s flowing locks. The Paris St Germain star, the key summer target for Manchester United, leaves a nightclub at 3.30am with the son of Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd.
Ronaldinho was in London to work on a new computer game, and spent some R&R in the VIP section of Click nightclub. Eventually, as the sun prepared to rise, he left the club with his sister, friends and Kenny Shepherd, who works for games company EA Sports.
Telegraph – 16th July 2007 – Newcastle have made an audacious enquiry for Fifa World Player of the Year Ronaldinho – and were quoted a price of £58 million.
During talks over the availability of Barcelona’s players the Brazilian’s name was raised, but the price may be too much, even for Newcastle’s new owner, billionaire Mike Ashley.
£58 million too much for Mike Ashley?!
Luis Figo – 2005
Graeme Souness has admitted that Newcastle are considering bringing Real Madrid’s Luis Figo to Tyneside. Newcastle boss Souness told BBC Sport: “There is an interest there as far as Luis Figo is concerned but we don’t want to say any more at the moment.”
Christian Vieri – 2005
Newcastle boss Graeme Souness fears he may miss out in a bold double raid for Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri and Manchester United’s Alan Smith. The 31-year-old Vieri has been released by Inter and is looking for a club. Souness said: “We did inquire about Christian Vieri. I got a mutual friend to have a word with the player, but it appears he wants to go to Spain.”
Miss out on Vieri but sign Alan Smith. Typical.
Wayne Rooney – 2004
The £20m ‘bid’ for Rooney spawned numerous rumours that this was just an attempt to force Manchester United’s hand. No one will ever know apart from Freddy Shepherd.
Luka Modric – 2008
Modric was one of the rare rumours that we can actually say “spotted on Tyneside”. In 2008 he visited training facilities and had a meeting with Dennis Wise and Tony Jiminez. Who knows why the deal never concluded….!
Jose Mourinho – 2000
BBC Sport – 30th November 2004
Jose Mourinho revealed he turned down an offer to be his assistant manager at Newcastle in 2000. In an extract from his biography Mourinho explained: “Bobby lives and breathes the pitch and wants direct contact with the players. But he knew my ambition wouldn’t allow me to accept an assistant coach role.”
Mourinho added: “Since Bobby suspected I wouldn’t accept it, he told me it would only be for a year, two tops, and that at the end of that time I would be head coach and he club manager.
“But he had forgotten that I had worked with him for many years and so I knew him well. It is unthinkable to picture him as a manager, watching from the stands. But I didn’t take him up on his offer, knowing sooner or later, my time would come.”
Mourinho at the helm of Newcastle United following the Robson years. Imagine how that would have panned out….!
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