Zidane could have joined Newcastle? A scout ruined everything

In 1996, Zinedine Zidane was not yet the legendary figure we know today but a 24-year-old midfielder playing for Bordeaux. That summer, he moved to Juventus—but things could have taken a very different turn.

Details: Renowned agent Barry Silkman revealed that he once watched Zidane play and recommended him to his friend Kevin Keegan, who was managing Newcastle at the time.

The Magpies, then still a Championship club, sent a scout to assess Zidane—who, astonishingly, concluded that the Frenchman wasn’t good enough for Newcastle.

• Read also: What is Zidane up to Now? The football legend hasn’t coached in 3.5 years

Quote:

"I went out to watch him [Zidane] play. I was told about him, went out to watch him. I watched 45 minutes... He came on at halftime, scored two and made one, but after 15 minutes, you could see"

I didn't have to sit there any longer. His brain was two yards quicker than everyone on the pitch. "I spoke to the president after the game, and they wanted £1.2million and they said, we'll give you back a commission out of that. I thought it's only one club this guy really suits - Newcastle."

"He [Keegan] sent the the scout and I will never forget this, [it was] in the day of the fax machines. I get a phone call on the Monday and said, 'Silky, in the next half hour you'll be getting a fax about the player [Zidane].

"The fax came through and I will never, ever forget it. I wished I'd kept it. "The fax said: Silky has grossly over-exaggerated the player, and at that time Wolves were bottom of what is now the Championship. I don't even think he could play for Wolves.

"I said to Kevin, whoever it was that went to watch him, sack him." "He phoned me back a couple of days later, he said, Silky, they know the player, they really like him, the rest is history!" Silkman told talkSPORT.