Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Sport
Sean McCormick

Clarence Acuna discusses the 'mutual intelligence' between Nobby Solano and Alan Shearer

Former Newcastle United star Clarence Acuna has been reliving his time at St James' Park.

The former Chilean international midfielder joined the club from Universidad de Chile in the summer of 2000 and spent just over three seasons on Tyneside.

Acuna became somewhat of a cult hero, helping the club to two top four finishes in the Premier League and Champions League qualification, before he returned to Chile in October 2003 to take care of his mother.

The 45-year-old spent the rest of his career in South America and has become a reclusive figure in the eyes of Newcastle fans.

Nonetheless, over the weekend he spoke to Peruvian publication RPP about his time in the North East of England, as well as his relationship with former Peru international Nobby Solano.

Acuna waxed lyrical about his former team-mate, claiming the 'English could not touch him', before going on to discuss the relationship Solano shared with Newcastle United's record goalscorer Alan Shearer.

"Alan Shearer knew that 60-70% were going to be goal passes.," Acuna said.

"Then came a Frenchman, Laurent Robert, who was playing on the left side. He didn’t speak English and Alan approached him. He knew that, like Ñol, he was going to leave him alone to score the goals.

“Shearer was an intelligent player who knew that he needed Nol and that Nol needed him because every pass had to have a quality player to score goals. It was mutual intelligence.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.