Patrick Kluivert, who joined Newcastle United on a free transfer in 2004, has alleged that Alan Shearer is responsible for his underwhelming stint at St. James' Park. Kluivert's spell at Newcastle lasted just one season, as he headed back to Spain with Valencia in 2005.
He scored 13 times in 37 outings for Newcastle, averaging roughly one goal every three matches. 41 per game for Newcastle. Kluivert stated, 'There is only one man responsible for the fact that I did not become a big hit in Newcastle, his name is Alan Shearer.
' He added, 'I think Shearer is a fantastic footballer, but [then-manager Graeme] Souness should have played [Craig] Bellamy and me together all the time. ' Craig Bellamy, who developed his own successful partnership with Alan Shearer across three-and-a-half seasons at Newcastle, initially under the late Sir Bobby Robson, clashed with his manager and was ultimately transferred in January 2005, first joining Celtic on loan. Kluivert further remarked, 'I know Bellamy felt the same but that did not make a difference.
Every week it was Shearer and Kluivert or Shearer and Bellamy,' and 'Newcastle United Football Club is all about Alan Shearer, it is as simple as that. ' The specific tactical or managerial reasons Graeme Souness had for not playing Kluivert and Bellamy together more often remain unclear. Alan Shearer's response to Patrick Kluivert's allegations has not been disclosed.