Champions League winner admitted he regrets joining Newcastle United as Alan Shearer made his life hell

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Alan Shearer is Newcastle United’s greatest player ever.

When he joined the club for £15million in 1996, he became Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever. He also became the most expensive player in the world.

What came next was goal after goal – 206 of them to be exact. Alan Shearer became Newcastle’s record goalscorer, breaking Jackie Milburn’s record in February 2006.

Shearer is a Newcastle United legend, and even has his own statue at St James’ Park.

But while he is idolised on Tyneside, former Toon striker Patrick Kluivert was less complimentary about the son of a sheet-metal worker from Gosforth.

• READ MORE: Who is Alan Shearer? Stats, Height, Wife, Daughter, Net Worth

What Patrick Kluivert said about Alan Shearer and Newcastle United

In 2004, Newcastle United signed Patrick Kluivert on a free transfer.

He joined Shearer and Craig Bellamy at St James’ Park, with the Magpies boasting some incredible forwards.

However, Kluivert’s Newcastle United career did not go to plan, and the Dutch striker believes that is because of Shearer.

“There is only one man responsible for the fact that I did not become a big hit in Newcastle, his name is Alan Shearer,” he said, as reported by Sky Sports.

“The man is God in the North. I think Shearer is a fantastic footballer, but [Graeme] Souness should have played Bellamy and me together all the time. We formed the ideal partnership, Souness should have preferred both of us above Shearer.

“I know Bellamy felt the same but that did not make a difference. Every week it was Shearer and Kluivert or Shearer and Bellamy.

“Newcastle United Football Club is all about Alan Shearer, it is as simple as that. Nobody can beat him, nobody can touch him and nobody can do anything about it.”

Playing in England was Patrick Kluivert’s dream

Kluivert, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, spent one season at St James’ Park, scoring 13 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions.

One year after arriving, he left on a free transfer to join Valencia. That brought a bleak end to Kluivert’s career in English football, despite it being his dream to play there.

“Newcastle United was not the right choice, there is always chaos at that club,” Kluivert added.

“Where in the world do you see two players from the same club fighting with each other in the middle of a match? I can remember sitting on the bench and it just happened in front of me, Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer having a right brawl.

“It was always my dream to play in England, when I look back I think it was one of the biggest mistakes in my career. Not because of England, but because of Newcastle.”

Newcastle United linked with Patrick Kluivert’s son

Fast forward to 2025 and Patrick Kluivert’s son is thriving in English football.

Justin Kluivert is a star for Bournemouth, boasting 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season.

He has been outstanding for the Cherries, with his performances attracting interest from elsewhere.

Kluivert has been linked with Newcastle, as Paul Mitchell ponders how to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad when the summer transfer window opens.

The 25-year-old would be an exceptional signing, while it has been reported by the Chronicle that Kluivert is impressed by the current project at St James’ Park.

If a formal offer does arrive from Newcastle United, it will be interesting to know what kind of advice Justin receives from his father given his Toon experience.