Busted: how Alan Shearer nearly signed for Roma
Enjoyable anecdote from Alan Shearer in The Athletic (£):
When I was leaving Blackburn, I also had a few options and Italy was one of them; firm interest from Sampdoria and Roma were sniffing, too.
So I flew to Rome with my agent, all very hush-hush, and in between meetings he suggested we pay a visit to the Trevi Fountain. I was keeping my head down for obvious reasons but, “What’s the harm?” I thought. “Nobody will recognise me.”
And wouldn’t you know it… a coach pulls up, rammed with Geordie tourists. “Hoy man, Shearer! What are ye deein’ here?” Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. Even in the Eternal City, I was being pointed home.