A lot of Newcastle United fans have replied to a post from Goal that has included quotes made by Alan Shearer on Kylian Mbappe.
Shearer, speaking to Canal+ (via the Evening Chronicle) claimed that he would love to see the Frenchman in the Premier League but jokingly claimed that the only club that he could play for would be Newcastle.
This drew the attention of these Toon fans who were baffled by the number of people who replied that thought this was serious.
????? good joke Alan
— Ginkoh_NUFC (@Ginkohro) June 1, 2020
He didn’t say that coz it was on MOTD he said “would you not see him at Newcastle” as a joke
— ??????? (@MagicalMaximin) May 31, 2020
The amount of people not getting that this is a joke, absolutely unreal.
— Ben (@bbnufc) May 31, 2020
2020 and people still struggle with sarcasm or tongue in cheek comments
— ?Namelessghoul1892? (@Nameles96863577) May 31, 2020
A quick look through the replies will show a lot of other football fans slating Newcastle and Shearer, thinking that the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer was serious with this suggestion.
Are you surprised at how many people didn't realise Shearer was joking?
Yes
No
The Toon are in the middle of a proposed takeover, and PIF, the company that reportedly intends to take an 80% stake in the club, are worth around £260bn – so they won’t be short of cash, but a move for Mbappe seems like a fantasy and Shearer was clearly joking.
However, some Toon fans have dared to dream about the World Cup winner swapping Paris for Tyneside.
Big Al will persuade the bonny lad
— AJ (@wilksie710) May 31, 2020
I think he would jump at the chance to come, and with age on his side he would be a sound investment!
— michael shaw (@thunderchild127) June 1, 2020
Mbappe & ASM together ?
— Miss M (@Miss_M36) June 1, 2020
Shearer was full of praise for the incredible 21-year-old who has already scored 13 goals for France and 90 for PSG in just 34 games for his country and 120 for his club.
The deal for Mike Ashley to sell to Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium has been with the Premier League for a while going through the required checks after a deposit was paid to Ashley.
Since the takeover talk emerged, the Toon have been linked with Philippe Coutinho, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Dries Mertens – as well as a list of managerial targets, including Rafael Benitez and Mauricio Pochettino.
However, with the Premier League still having not made a decision, it seems pointless to speculate on who could be signing for the Toon until the takeover is resolved – one way or the other.