Joining Newcastle United was one of my biggest mistakes and one man was to blame
CommentsTom Sunderland Sports Writer08:00, 10 Mar 2026Newcastle play host to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday in what will be a special day for one Magpies alum in particular. However, Patrick Kluivert may not be rooting for Eddie Howe's men given his stint at St James' Park was such an underwhelming experience.
The Dutch great arrived on Tyneside in 2004 amid weighty expectations following his success at the Camp Nou. Kluivert, 49, won La Liga with Barca during his six years in Catalonia, which coincided with the most prolific period of his iconic career with the Netherlands.
His time in the north-east was cut short after a single season, however, as he returned to Spain with Valencia in 2005. And Kluivert assigns blame to a certain Newcastle legend for why his time at the club didn't pan out as hoped.
"There is only one man responsible for the fact that I did not become a big hit in Newcastle, his name is Alan Shearer," Kluivert told Voetbal International in November 2005. "The man is God in the North.
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Newcastle United latest via the Chronicle’s dedicated Facebook page
"I think Shearer is a fantastic footballer, but [then-manager Graeme] Souness should have played [Craig] Bellamy and me together all the time. We formed the ideal partnership, Souness should have preferred both of us above Shearer."
In Souness' defence, Bellamy forged his own prolific partnership with Shearer over the course of three-and-a-half seasons in Newcastle, at first under Sir Bobby Robson. However, the Welshman came to blows with his manager and was eventually moved on in January 2005, initially joining Celtic on loan.
Kluivert scored 13 times in 37 appearances for Newcastle, an average of around one goal every three games. That didn't quite match his scoring ratio in Barcelona, where he netted 122 times in 257 appearances, as well as laying on 61 assists.
That equates to around 0.71 director goal contributions per game for Barca, compared to an average of just 0.41 contributions per game for the Magpies. One can understand why Newcastle fans might have been disappointed with their star signing, tough Kluivert felt Shearer's untouchable status was a burden in his case.
He continued: "I know Bellamy felt the same but that did not make a difference. Every week it was Shearer and Kluivert or Shearer and Bellamy.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more£49£35SkyGet Sky Sports hereProduct DescriptionSky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
"Newcastle United Football Club is all about Alan Shearer, it is as simple as that. Nobody can beat him, nobody can touch him and nobody can do anything about it."
Those comments are in stark contrast to Kluivert's words upon joining Newcastle on a free transfer. He said at the time that he was looking forward to playing alongside Shearer before the reality of what that entailed dawned on him.
The Champions League is Newcastle's last remaining chance at silverware this season after being knocked out of the FA Cup at Manchester City's hands. Captain Bruno Guimaraes and defender Fabian Schar are the big names missing for the hosts, while Barca will be without Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and ex-Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen at a minimum.