Burkina Faso
Croatia
Czech Republic
Indonesia
International Tournaments
Nigeria
Republic OF Ireland
South Africa

Newcastle sold star player only to have Bastian Schweinsteiger bid laughed at

talksport.com, 16 January 2025, 17:24
Bastian Schweinsteiger is a Bayern Munich legend, but this would not be the case if Kevin Keegan had got his way.

The former Germany midfielder went down as an all-time great in Bavaria, lifting 18 major trophies, including eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League during an illustrious 13 years at the club.

However, Schweinsteiger's career with Bayern would not have reached anywhere near these heights had Newcastle manager Keegan succeeded in his attempts to sign him.

Back in 2008, the then Magpies boss had lined up the German World Cup winner as a replacement for the departing James Milner.

With Milner a key player at St James' Park, Keegan reluctantly agreed to his £12million sale to Aston Villa, after being led to believe that Schweinsteiger was headed to the north east in his place.

But to Keegan's fury, not only did he fail to land his target, he was left humiliated by Newcastle's infamously dubbed 'Cockney Mafia' owners.

Read More on talksport

Turki Alalshikh to hold Tyson Fury talks about retirement as he clarifies £500m rumour

'Cringe F.C' - Arsenal gesture before win over Tottenham left talkSPORT host baffled

According to his assistant at the time, Terry McDermott, the former Liverpool hero was 'hoodwinked' by the club, who made a derisory €5million (£4.3m) bid for Schweinsteiger to push through Milner's sale.

In his 2017 autobiography "Terry Mac: Living For The Moment," McDermott opened up on the saga, as he explained how Keegan came to agree to Milner's sale.

He wrote: "It was a decent offer, so Kevin asked who would they get to replace him. It would have to be someone really good because Milner was a crucial player.

"[Vice chairman Tony] Jimenez said they had accepted the bid and that it looked like they could sign Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich.

Most read in Football

Al Hilal could use little-known transfer loophole to sign Mohamed Salah

Willian emerges as shock January transfer option for Premier League club

Gary Neville takes furious pop at 'overreaching' Arsenal coach who 'offends him'

EFL told to 'kick Wrexham out' if they go through with controversial plan

"Kevin said it was a no-brainer: 'Just do it'."

However, what promised to be an incredible piece of business for Newcastle soon came undone.

McDermott revealed that Jimenez then asked Keegan to discuss the potential move with Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rumenigge, who he knew personally.

It was at this point that the former England boss discovered that his employers' had no intention of signing Schweinsteiger, as he called the German side's board on speaker phone.

McDermott continued: "He ended up getting Karl-Heinz on the phone and switched it to speaker mode.

"In English, he explained the reason he was ringing him - that he had been told by his club they might be able to sign Schweinsteiger.

"Karl-Heinz immediately started laughing. He revealed Bayern had received an email from Newcastle that morning offering €5m for him."

He then shared Rumenigge's response: " 'Kevin, we couldn't stop laughing.

"If you had offered €50m we still wouldn't have sold him -- but €5m?!

"After the conversation ended, I looked at Kevin and he was ashen-faced. We had lost a very good player with no suitable replacement. The club had hoodwinked him."

Ultimately, Keegan both lost Milner and failed to replace him with Schweinsteiger.

And it's fair to say their careers at their respective clubs went in polar opposite directions after the transfer saga.

Just months after Milner's departure, Keegan followed suit, resigning from his role amid a string of disappointing results and disagreements with the club's ownership in his second stint in charge

Read More on talkSPORT

Lazio release statement as staff member is fired for showing his penis online

Medvedev offers unlikely excuse after destroying net camera in scare vs World No. 418

Meanwhile, Schweinsteiger went on to establish himself as a Bayern legend, adding a further four Bundesliga titles to his collection, as well as lifting the Champions League in 2013.

His career reached its pinnacle with victory at the 2014 World Cup, before bringing his career to an end with stints at Manchester United and Chicago Fire.

Troy Deeney clears up his Newcastle comments with offer to fans ahead of Wolves game

Show more

Top News

3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will continue their quest to win the Copa del Rey for the 21st time when they lock horns with Leganes in Wednesday's quarter-final clash. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Tottenham will not be signing Axel Disasi on deadline day, talkSPORT understands. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leganes captain Sergio Gonzalez will be available to feature in Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Real Madrid. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly sent an offer of £20m to Burnley for centre-back Maxime Esteve, but the Clarets are holding out for a higher fee. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic have reportedly made a late move to sign Crystal Palace's Jeffrey Schlupp on loan, as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his squad before the transfer deadline. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester United pulled out of the race to sign Mathys Tel as Bayern Munich excluded a buy option in a deal, talkSPORT understands. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Meeting for the second time in three seasons in Coupe de France, Strasbourg welcome Angers to Stade de la Meinau for their round-of-16 encounter this midweek. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will have to name a replacement for the injured Antonio Rudiger for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganes at Butarque. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly ended their interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur-bound Mathys Tel due to Bayern Munich demanding a £5m loan fee for the 19-year-old. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and West Ham United have named their first XIs for Monday's Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton is reportedly wanted by Championship side Middlesbrough in a late deadline day deal that could fetch 'significantly' more than £10m. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia is reportedly set for a loan move to PSV Eindhoven. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that they have recalled David Datro Fofana from his loan spell at Goztepe SK, a move that could trigger a pair of departures from Stamford Bridge. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly is reportedly on the radar of England's senior plans ahead of the March internationals. 3 February 2025 talksport.com No one knows better than Cristiano Ronaldo about how to succeed at Real Madrid, so Kylian Mbappe better listen up. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Toulouse and Guingamp will lock horns in a battle between two recent winners of the Coupe de France on Wednesday night. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham are reportedly yet to respond to an offer from Palmeiras for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester United player Angel Gomes is reportedly set to remain at Lille until the end of the campaign. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France is up for grabs when Nice travel to fourth-tier Stade Briochin on Wednesday. 3 February 2025 talksport.com A tenacious fan managed to give Lionel Messi's bodyguard the slip to embrace his hero during an Inter Miami friendly on Sunday. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will look to progress to the Copa del Rey semi-finals when they travel to Mestalla for Thursday's quarter-final tie against Valencia. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly re-entered the race for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi during the final stages of the window. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly ready to push through the signing of Saint-Etienne midfielder Mathis Amougou. 3 February 2025 talksport.com The 2025 Premier League winter transfer window slams shut tonight with clubs rushing to complete some last-gasp activity. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Carlisle United are reportedly considering a bold approach for Steven Gerrard as their next manager following the dismissal of Mike Williamson. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to be one of the lowest-ranked teams to make the Coupe de France last eight, AS Cannes and Dives-Cabourg clash in the competition's round of 16 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Wednesday. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah gave Gary Lineker a humorous, yet jokey, hint about his future at Liverpool. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Wrexham's ascent as a Welsh footballing powerhouse is continuing off the pitch as well as on it. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to miss out on the signing of Leon Bailey from Aston Villa. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly finally reached an agreement over the sale of Mario Lemina.
Wed 05 Feb, 17:45
QF
PSV PSV
-
sch
Feyenoord Feyenoord
Wed 05 Feb, 20:00
QF
AC Milan AC Milan
-
sch
Roma Roma