It’s probably a good job Rafael Benitez wasn’t Newcastle United manager when Faustino Asprilla was around. The Spaniard may have turfed Asprilla out before the Coilombian had a chance to entertain the St James’ Park faithful.
Aleksandar Mitrovic may have had a reputation as a bit of a playboy whilst in Belgium, but he’s got nothing on the old Newcastle United cult hero. Still a star in his own country, and among football fans, largely thanks to off the pitch controversies, Asprilla have been speaking to FourFourTwo about five matches which changed his life.
One of those was Newcastle United’s 3-1 victory over Barcelona at St James’ Park. And, unsurprisingly, Asprilla doesn’t only remember the event because of what happened on the pitch, the partying which led up to it played a crucial part too.
Speaking to Four Four Two, the now 47 year old explained: “I almost didn’t play. I’d been away on international duty, but instead of going back to Newcastle I went to my ranch and had a party with lots of girls.
“Kenny Dalglish (then Newcastle United manager) was furious, but before kick-off he read out the line-up and I was in. My first goal was a penalty before a couple of headers from Keith Gillespie crosses.
“I will never forget the Newcastle fans singing my name. I didn’t understand them as it was in Geordie, but I could still tell that they were really happy.”
To find out the other four matches which changed Asprilla’s life, subscribe to FourFourTwo.
