Newcastle United beat Manchester United and Leeds to the signing of Jermaine Jenas from Nottingham Forest in 2002 and the former England international has opened up about his move

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Jermaine Jenas has revealed that Sir Bobby Robson was so excited after the former Newcastle United midfielder snubbed a move to Manchester United and Leeds to join the Magpies.

Jenas was a player in demand back in February, 2002 whenNewcastle, Manchester United and Leeds were all prepared to make the highly-rated youngster the most expensive English teenager of all-time when he was just 18 years of age. Newcastle and Leeds both tabled bids of 5m, butManchester Unitedonly offered 3m because, in the words of ex-Nottingham Forest boss Paul Hart,Sir Alex Fergusonbelieved it was an honour to play for the club.

Jenas, though, did not feel like Sir Alex genuinely wanted him at a time when the Scot could call upon Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who were already on the clubs books. Given how desperate Jenas was to play, rather than just learning from these players in training, the Nottingham lad effectively ruled out a move to the Red Devils there and then.

READ MORE:Newcastle are looking where Kevin Keegan found frighteningly good star

Although fellow suitors Leeds were playing in the Champions League at the time, and Yorkshire was closer to home, Jenas had been warned by his agent, Paul Stretford, that there was trouble ahead for the club off the field. Jenas, therefore, smartly plumped for Newcastle - thanks in no small part to Sir Bobby.

Ill never forget going into Nottingham Forest and my manager [Paul Hart] telling me, Look, there has been three bids in, he recalled to Off the Ball. I think Manchester United had bid three million, Leeds had bid five and Newcastle had bid five.

It was like, Right, the car for Newcastle is basically here. Once Im in the car, Bobby Robson rings my phone. I was 18 years old talking to Bobby Robson and he was so excited.

It was a pleasure to play under him. He was like a father figure for me. He really was...when we lost him, it was tough times because we were close as manager and player and man and youngster so to speak.

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