Former Newcastle United star Alan Shearer has lifted the lid on how close he came to joining Manchester United.

Shearer left Blackburn Rovers in 1996 for Newcastle - though not before speaking with Sir Alex Ferguson about moving to Old Trafford.

He told Sky Sports: "That was when I sat down with Sir Alex and spoke to him and spoke to Kevin (Keegan) in the morning.

"The same day. I met them both on the same day. Sir Alex came in the afternoon and his first words to me were: 'Am I seeing you first or second?'

"I told him I had met Kevin in the morning and he said: 'well that's me, I've got no chance'.

"But that wasn't the case actually. I was 85/90 per cent sure I was going to join Man United and then I got another phone call off Kevin.

"He wanted another half an hour with me and I did and I thought do you know what? I want to go home. It was always my dream and it was a great decision. What are you laughing at?!

"It was a pretty special afternoon. It is not often you get to embarrass Man United but we did that day."

Asked if he has ended up regretting the decision he made to join Newcastle over the Reds, Shearer added: "No. I don't. I'd do exactly the same again.

"What I have got at Newcastle, my club. I stood on the terraces as a boy and went back as the world's most expensive player.

"I wore the number nine shirt, I am the record goalscorer and I have a statue outside St James' Park.

"I know I would have won more trophies but the 10 years that I had, the goals I scored and what I have at Newcastle - I will never regret it."