Robson wanted Shearer at Barca
The Newcastle United chief spent the 1996/97 season at the Barca helm before being shunted into a role upstairs following Louis van Gaal's arrival at Camp Nou.
But one of Robson's greatest masterstrokes in Catalunya was signing Brazilian superstar Ronaldo from PSV Eindhoven.
Robson, though, has admitted Ronaldo was only one of his striking targets as he also wanted current Magpies skipper Shearer under his wing.
Shearer was then at Blackburn Rovers and Robson's interest was only weeks before the former England captain completed a then-British record move to St James' Park.
The veteran boss delivered a glowing endorsement of Ronaldo as he also revealed his request for Barcelona to sign Shearer upon his appointment at Camp Nou.
"A lot of clubs wanted him (Ronaldo), including Lazio and Bayern Munich, although not many knew him like I did," Robson told respected Spanish magazine Don Balon.
"I told the board to buy him or Alan Shearer, who was then at Blackburn.
"He (Ronaldo) is a great boy, very respectful. He loved the game and I sometimes caught him training with the youth team and had to take him home because he just wanted to play all the time. I think that what happened after that was down to his agents."
Although Robson refuted some of the comments made in the interview regarding his alleged choices if he was still England manager, he did expand on his time as Barcelona coach.
Robson admitted it was third time lucky when he finally assumed the Barcelona hot seat but there remains a trace of bitterness over how he was cast aside in favour of Dutch coach, van Gaal.
He continued: "You know, Barcelona tried to make me their coach when I was England manager and when I was at Ipswich some years before.
"The problem was that I could never make them forget about Johan Cruyff. It was very difficult when it all ended and I found it very tough to leave the job and become the most highly-paid scout in the world. I had waited 18 years to be coach of Barcelona.
"Joan Gaspart assured me that nobody was coming but before the end of the season I realised they wanted van Gaal to replace me.
"He was seen as the future and I had to move aside. I was moved upstairs and disappeared from public view after having one of the best seasons of my career."
Robson, though, has bounced back strongly from his Spanish disappointment to reinvigorate Newcastle United and lead them into the Champions League for a second successive season.
His ceaseless passion for football never fails to shine and Robson concedes he simply cannot give up working in the game.
"I need to work. It is a drug. Believe me I do not do it for the money. When I get up in the morning, I am always very excited that I am going into work."
