Alan Shearer may regret making a joke about repeatedly turning down Manchester United

What might have been.

Alan Shearer record of 260 goals, the most in Premier League history, may never be bettered. However, we’d wager good money that the Match of the Day pundit holds another record – the only player to turn down Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United twice during his career.

Shearer was wanted by United during the summer of 1992, but the striker opted to leave Southampton for Blackburn Rovers and Ferguson signed Eric Cantona a few months later instead.

In 1996, Shearer was on the move again, and although United won the Premier League and FA Cup double the previous season, the striker couldn’t turn down the chance to join his boyhood club Newcastle United, for a then world transfer fee record of £15m.

Shearer would never win another trophy, while United claimed multiple titles and tasted European success. The 45 year old was reminded of this when he tweeted a photo with Ferguson on Saturday afternoon.

He FINALLY managed to get me in a red shirt!! 😂 #SirAlex @TheMasters @CallawayGolf pic.twitter.com/eQDDyMYLwF

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) April 9, 2016

The pair ran into each other at the Masters at Augusta National, and it’s a good thing the tournament’s organisers don’t allow you to carry your smart phone on the course, because United fans couldn’t resist the chance to repeatedly mock the former striker.

@alanshearer @TheMasters @CallawayGolf you pretend to laugh but deep down its the biggest regret of your life Alan.

— ricky (@richardburnett8) April 9, 2016

@alanshearer @TheMasters @CallawayGolf 260 + goals would have been 300+

— M (@MichaelSmila) April 9, 2016

@alanshearer @zubq @TheMasters @CallawayGolf made a big mistake you would have been trophy laden if you had the ambition

— P.J (@pjstretfordend) April 9, 2016

.@alanshearer @TheMasters @CallawayGolf could’ve got you one of these mate pic.twitter.com/Y09yVmhTJm

— Jaydeep (@JonesOnCorners) April 9, 2016

@alanshearer @TheMasters @CallawayGolf The red shirt you should have taken in the 90’s would have given you more success #united

— Jason Howarth (@Jacedd) April 9, 2016

@alanshearer @TheMasters @CallawayGolf @CDRussell13 Imagine how many more titles you would have got ?

— Andy Millard (@andym1990) April 9, 2016

@alanshearer you should of come to united, Alan, you would of had some great times and won many more trophies, even more than David May 🙂

— Gareth Wood (@woody0161) April 9, 2016

@alanshearer @TheMasters @CallawayGolf biggest mistake of your life.

— Kieran Dempsey (@dempsek) April 9, 2016