7. Man United Had Failed To Call Shearer Back Four Years Previously When He Was Looking To Leave Southampton... So The Striker Had Already Rejected The Red Devils Before
When a 21-year-old Shearer was looking to leave Southampton in 1992, Newcastle United were not one of the front-runners for his signature. Instead, it was a straight race between Blackburn Rovers and, of course, Manchester United. Just this month, Shearer revealed that his £3.6 million move to Rovers was almost scuppered by the Red Devils at the last moment. Shearer had already spoken with Blackburn boss Kenny Dalglish and had promised to respond within a couple of days when the Red Devils called. Although Shearer told Man United he would be interested to hold talks, the Red Devils never called back - and so Shearer moved to Blackburn. Speaking about his 1992 move, Shearer said:
"After talks (with Dalglish) I went back home and had a call from someone at Manchester United. "They were interested, they wanted to sign me. I said: 'I've promised Kenny I'd give him an answer within two or three days, I intend to do that. I would love to have talks with you.' "I never had a phonecall back from Manchester United - so it was never an option."
Man United missed their chance four years previously, so in 1996 it is not a surprise that the England forward opted for his boyhood team ahead of a club who never called him back.