Trevor Sinclair has joked Newcastle United 'did okay' after Sir Bobby Robson moved to sign Laurent Robert ahead of himself.
The former Manchester City and West Ham winger was asked about potential 'sliding doors' moments in his playing career.
Sinclair first recalled interest from Liverpool during his time at Upton Park, but the 48-year-old insists he was enjoying his time with the Hammers and was not prepared to submit a transfer request.
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The second example given by the talkSPORT pundit was a possible switch to St James' Park, with Sir Bobby in the market for a left winger.
The Newcastle legend described Manchester United star Ryan Giggs as 'unbuyable' in his 2005 autobiography Farewell but not Goodbye, while also namechecking Sinclair as an option.
United ultimately agreed a deal for PSG winger Robert in 2001, who would go on to establish himself as a cult hero during his five-year stint on Tyneside.
Sinclair confused Robert for another Toon favourite and former French wide man in David Ginola in his retelling of the story, and spoke of his 'great relationship' with Sir Bobby.
Asked about 'sliding doors' moments in his career, he told talkSPORT : "I had two. One was to Liverpool in about 2000, 2001.
"Big chance to go there, got tapped up - not going to name names - but they wanted me to put a transfer request in.
"I was loving my football, loving my team-mates, loved being at West Ham and I wasn't prepared to do that. If the club accepted a bid, I would have had a chat with them.
"The other one was Newcastle. I think Sir Bobby put it in his book, I'd already played for Bobby at his school of excellence so I had a great relationship with Bobby.
"He was looking for a left winger, and he mentioned Giggsy but couldn't get him from Manchester United, myself who was a right-footed left winger, and Ginola [sic] so I think they did okay!"
Sir Bobby was looking for a 'long-term' replacement at left wing to Stephen Glass, and described in his autobiography that he was not the only manager looking for a natural left-footed wide man.
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He wrote: "On the left-hand side of the team we'd had Stephen Glass, who possessed a good left foot but wasn't quite quick or strong enough to fill the position long-term.
"I looked high and low for a left-sided player who could dribble and get wide and who had pace. Like the England management, I suppose, I was scouring the leagues for an outside-left.
"The Premiership's best, Ryan Giggs, was un-buyable. Trevor Sinclair, who ended up at Manchester City, was not naturally a left-footed winger."
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