Hugo Viana, who was once in discussions to join Liverpool in the early 2000s, ultimately opted for Newcastle following a conversation with then-manager Sir Bobby Robson. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTHowever, a single phone call with Robson swayed Viana's decision, as Robson's current position and previous tenure at Sporting convinced him to choose Newcastle. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT"I spoke on the phone with Gerard Houllier at Liverpool and one of my (Portugal) team-mates, Abel Xavier, was always telling me to go there. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more. Despite underwhelming performances in the Premier League, the ex-midfielder harbours no regrets about his spell on Tyneside or any chapter of his playing days.

Source: Express February 01, 2026 10:18 UTC