I tried to convince World Cup finalist to join Newcastle United - but he was having none of it
Maybe Newcastle United might have had a chance if it were after the takeover...
Darts star Chris Dobey has revealed his failed attempt to convince former Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic to join Newcastle United.
The Bedlington-born Newcastle fan has explained how he ended up playing darts online with the Croatian star during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The world number 16 was speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘Love the Darts’ podcast when he was asked about the shirts on his wall in the background.
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Dobey displayed Newcastle shirts from fellow Geordies Sean and Matty Longstaff, plus a signed Ipswich Town top from Wallsend-born Leif Davis, but it was Brozovic’s shirt that, unsurprisingly, caught the attention.
"So, Sean and Matty Longstaff, I got them off them and Leif sent us a shirt," Dobey revealed. "And Brozovic, I used to play online a bit with him, he's a good hand at the darts.
“He sent us his shirt as well, I sent him a few things for the darts, but yeah, these are the ones that are match-worn."
So how did Dobey come to know the former Serie A champion, Champions League and World Cup finalist?
"I got a random message,” Dobey explained. “I didn't believe it at first, but yeah, we used to have FaceTimes and we used to be on FaceTime for an hour or so while we were playing. It was good fun to be fair."
‘I tried to get him to Newcastle’
Dobey was in contact with Brozovic when the midfielder was playing for Inter. The now 33-year-old left to join Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in 2023, but before that, Dobey tried his luck at getting him to Newcastle.
Dobey said: "I tried to get him to Newcastle but he was having none of it!"