A FORMER soccer agent has revealed how he provided Zinedine Zidane to Newcastle – just for Toon to model the Frenchman a barely Championship-level participant.
Barry Silkman is a former footballer who turned out for golf equipment together with Manchester Metropolis, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
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He went on to develop into one of many stunning sport’s prime switch gurus, facilitating strikes for quite a few large names.
Silkman labored with aces together with Jaap Stam, Micah Richards, Tomas Soucek and Yakubu throughout a glittering profession.
However he additionally got here near sealing one of many largest transfers in historical past.
In 1996, Silkman fell head over heels for midfield playmaker Zidane – then at French facet Bordeaux.
The ace would go on to develop into a celebrity for Juventus and Actual Madrid, successful three titles and a Champions League whereas additionally main France to World Cup glory in 1998.
On the time, Silkman had an excellent relationship with Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan and provided Zidane to the Magpies’ supervisor.
Nonetheless, he was left surprised when Keegan turned down the chance to signal Zidane for a cut price £1.2million.
The Newcastle gaffer had been knowledgeable by his chief scout that Zizou was hardly ok for Wolves – who have been backside of the Championship on the time.
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However years later, Keegan admitted to Silkman that he ought to have listened after seeing Zidane blossom into an all-time nice.
Writing in his guide, ‘The Not-So Secret Soccer Agent’, Silkman stated: “I used to be alerted to the expertise of a 24-year-old attacking midfielder at Bordeaux and I went alongside to observe him.
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“His identify was Zinedine Zidane, and it took me about 5 minutes to resolve that this man was going to be one thing very particular.
“I had introduced a lot of good gamers to Newcastle United below Kevin Keegan’s reign and each one in all them was successful, so Zidane felt like the right match for a Keegan workforce.
“It was 7 January, 1996, and I instructed Kevin he may signal Zidane for £1.2million – it was a steal.
“I begged Kevin to signal him, however in the long run he instructed me his chief scout thought he wasn’t ok and years later, Kevin instructed me he ought to have listened to me as an alternative of his scout.
“Zidane finally signed for Juventus and the remainder is historical past.
“Greater than 20 years later, Kevin would inform me I used to be one of the best agent he ever got here throughout – the one good one in his opinion.
“Good phrases from a prime man who I all the time received alongside rather well with over time.
“I want I’d stored the fax that was despatched to me from Newcastle United the place the chief scout said, ‘Silky has grossly overrated the participant. At greatest he’s ok for Wolves, who’re backside of the Championship at current’.
“I believe Zidane was barely higher than the gamers in struggling Wolves workforce!”
