'Talks went really, really well, and I thought at one stage I was going to go to Manchester United, and I even went house hunting around Manchester for a day': Alan Shearer reveals how close he came to signing for Alex Ferguson

Alan Shearer recounts his near-move to Manchester United in 1996, where he was pursued by both Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin Keegan. Having had a successful spell at Blackburn and after shining at Euro 96, he attracted attention from major clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United. Ultimately, despite the allure of Old Trafford, Shearer chose to return to Newcastle, completing a record £15 million transfer in July 1996. The conversation with Ferguson was significant, showcasing the high stakes in football transfers during that era.

I got the call from Manchester United... I was meeting Kevin Keegan and Sir Alex on the same day in the same house.

Sir Alex came in... and his first words to me were, Am I seeing you first or have you seen Kevin this morning?' He missed out Shearer, but not more silverware.

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