Alan Shearer has acknowledged that the prospect of Wayne Rooney joining Newcastle United was never deemed feasible.
Approximately two decades ago, a burgeoning talent was captivating the landscape of English football. The emergence of a new hero for the Three Lions stirred hopes of potential glory, notably during the Euro 2004 tournament, were it not for a setback in the form of a metatarsal fracture.
Rooney had already garnered significant attention within the Premier League during his two seasons with Everton, but it was his performances in the Euros held in Portugal that propelled him to international superstardom. Subsequent to the tournament, Newcastle emerged as one of the contenders seeking to secure his services.
Accounts from that period suggested that Newcastle was on the brink of finalizing a deal valued at approximately £20 million—an amount that, when juxtaposed with contemporary figures, appears relatively modest. Rooney himself disclosed in recent years that he had been poised to join Newcastle but had sought assurances regarding his potential departure to Manchester United a year later, contingent upon the latter matching the transfer fee.
However, events transpired differently, as news of Rooney’s potential move to St James’ Park prompted swift action from Sir Alex Ferguson, leading to his acquisition by Manchester United that summer. Subsequently, Rooney, now 38 years old, ascended to become Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer while amassing a collection of honors in English football.
During an interview with the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer—whose admiration for Rooney as a teammate has been well-documented—shed light on the feasibility of Newcastle’s pursuit. He remarked, “Yes, they did attempt to sign Rooney. However, I am uncertain about the extent of their seriousness. The involvement of the former chairman, Freddie Shepherd, whose son was connected to the agency, raises questions regarding whether the bid was intended to expedite a new contract negotiation. Nonetheless, Newcastle did indeed submit a bid for Rooney while he was at Manchester United. Although it would have been an extraordinary acquisition, I harbor doubts regarding its realistic feasibility.”