Reaction to Todays Deal (From Kluivert, FF & SBR)

By Matthew Jones
July 21 2004

Patrick Kluivert and Freddy Shepherd comment on today's deal. Kluivert is "happy to sign" a contract and Shepherd believes that Kluivert will, one day, wear Shearer's number 9 shirt. Kluivert will wear number 11 this season, and signed a three-year contract.

New signing Patrick Kluivert said:

"I'm very happy to sign a contract with Newcastle. My name was linked there for a long time.

"I'm finally very happy to join the club. There's lots of perfect, young players and that's very important for me.

"For sure, it's one of the most competitive competitions in the world. I've played in two different countries already in Spain and Italy. I've not played in England yet so I'm very happy and I hope to play alongside Shearer or the other two strikers.

"The audience first clapped me (at St James' Park) and, for a player, that is a very good feeling if you have that connection. That, for sure, has counted in my decision.

"I'm feeling 100 percent fit. I've won some prizes and hope to win very big prizes also with Newcastle. It's possible with the players I have in my team."

Chairman Freddy Shepherd believes that Kluivert will one day take Shearer's number 9 shirt, and (speaking to Sky Sports) added:

"There's only one Alan Shearer but I'm sure, when he retires, Kluivert will take the number nine shirt,"

"We've been on his case for two years - we thought we'd got him in January but it wasn't to be.

"The crowd were up for him (then) and that convinced him that day that Newcastle was his club.

"It's not a loan deal. We've got a great relationship with Barcelona. They were superb in this deal and a loan deal was never going to be on as he's a Newcastle player.

"We've tried throwing money in the past and we're not going to do it again. It's a great deal. We're happy, Barca are happy, Kluivert's happy.

"What's better than that?"

Quoted on the club's Official Website, Robson also said:

"It's exciting to have Patrick here. He's a dazzling player and at 28 he's at a great age. I think he still has his best years ahead of him to be honest.

"The signing is one of the most signifcant here for many, many years. I get the same feeling as when the club brought Alan Shearer home.

"He's a big player, a big name and a tremendous capture. He doesn't come cheap, but we haven't paid £25m or £10m or some of the big figures that are bandied about for strikers now.

"It's a great deal for Newcastle, Barcelona and Patrick Kluivert."

What do you think? Would you want to see PK wear the No. 9 shirt? Let us know!