Sir Bob praises former target


By Peter Donnelly
November 25 2002

In the build up to Newcastle's match with Italian giants Inter Milan Sir Bobby Robson has admitted he tried to sign Inter foward Alvaro Recoba and has halied him as a top class player. Our manager said,

"I first saw Recoba when I went to see Ronaldo play his first match for Inter when he left Barcelona," said Robson.

"It was 0-0, a tough match - like a game of chess - and then Recoba came on.

"I thought: 'Jesus, who is this boy?' He hit two absolute snorters that day with his left foot, both from 25 yards.

"Having seen him, I actually tried to get him on loan here from Inter. I thought: 'I'll take him to Newcastle'.

"That was in my first year here. Temuri Ketsbaia got injured, Duncan Ferguson was having problems while Silvio Maric... well, say no more.

"I went back to the chairman and said: 'Alan Shearer, that's all we've got.' So I tried to get Recoba."

Robson continued: "It was in the balance for a while but Inter wouldn't have it.
"I never quite got as far as talking to him - Inter put the poison down - and the chairman finally gave me a little bit of money and we bought little Kevin Gallacher, who did a great job for us.

"But what a player Recoba is."

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