Micah Richards said “only an idiot” would turn down Manchester United in reference to Alan Shearer’s decision to spurn Sir Alex Ferguson’s advances for Newcastle in 1996.
Newcastle paid a world-record transfer fee to land Shearer, who became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
And in the latest edition of the Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast, while discussing Robin van Persie’s decision to leave Arsenal for United in 2012, Shearer asked “who turns Man United down?” before being put down by Richards.
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Gary Lineker joined Shearer and Richards in the dicussion over one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history (via the Chronicle).
GL: “Great player. We’ve talked about him many times of course. Arsenal to Manchester United. £24 million. It was seen as a massive mistake by Arsene Wenger, wasn’t it? Letting your greatest and probably one of the best strikers they’ve ever had go to your biggest rivals at the time.”
AS: “After doing so well in the Arsenal shirt but, let’s face it, when Man United come calling, who turns Man United down?”
MR: “Only an idiot would do that!”
GL: “Only you, Alan!”
AS: “I understood the pull. I nearly did it myself. He went there but wasn’t he disappointed because I think Fergie then left a season after him going to Man United and, obviously, Sir Alex would have been a huge pull.”
Shearer has also recently discussed the possible imminent transfer of Harry Kane – who’s chasing his all-time Premier League goalscoring record – claiming the Spurs striker has reached a “pivotal” point in his career.
He said: “I’ve got way too much respect for Harry as a player and a man to offer him advice on a decision that I know for myself is rarely linear and that may not, in the end, be his to make.
“What I would say, though, is this: if he’s going to leave, it looks like this summer or not at all. Harry is 28 in three months and this is why I think we’re approaching a pivotal moment.
“He’s at his peak, the ready-made article, an absolute guarantee of goals wherever he plays and the opposite of a gamble, but a buying club is going to want three or four of his best years in return for what would certainly be an exorbitant transfer fee.
“This is that time. Twelve months down the line and it becomes that bit more difficult to justify.”
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