Don't forget, Shearer actually turned United down in favour of Newcastle.
They would have gladly broken another record there, just as they attempted to do on another with David Hirst.
Then it was Ronaldinho...
People rightly focus on the ridiculous amounts they parted with years back, but forget the ones who got away.
Their caveat has always been they used their own money, with little irony that Neil Webb, Danny Wallace, Paul Ince and Gary Pallister, were all financed that particular summer by a crook who didn't even have the cash to buy their poxy club.
Let's not even get in to where the money amassed by Dermot Desmond, JP McManus and Magnier came from, prior to selling their stakes to Glazer, as you would probably go missing, just like Shergar.
Slur Alex tried to take on people who have a penchant for kneecaps...