Shearer mystery explained

The Alan Shearer Genoa transfer mystery has been solved - the Serie B club's president Enrico Preziosi cracked an elaborate joke.

The local Secolo XIX newspaper were stunned to hear that Preziosi falsified the whole story, which was to sweep the Italian media on Thursday morning.

Despite claims that the deal had already been done, with only the official confirmation required, it always seemed highly unlikely that Shearer would trade Newcastle United for Genoa, particularly as he has a long-standing plan to retire at the end of next season.

"It's not true," Preziosi explained to Secolo XIX. "Shearer has never been in our dreams and I didn't even know of his existence.

"Sincerely, he wasn't in our plans.

"I take the responsibility for this matter. The responsibility is mine.

"Some people call me a joker and, as a joker, I joked."

Preziosi was asked to go into more depth to explain why he deliberately misled the newspaper.

"After a long day had passed talking about football, I wanted to relax.

"Instead, at 10pm, I received a telephone call from my spokeswoman who asked me for news about the player.

"She told me that Secolo XIX asked for news about that presumed negotiation and I told her to say 'yes', that we had reached a three-year agreement and that he will play with Genoa.

"It seemed to me such a big joke that I didn't think they would put it on the front page!

"I'm really sorry. I apologise to the supporters for allowing this news to reach the papers.

"I didn't think it was possible to do this.

"I'm sorry for the player too."