Robson comes out fighting after Woodgate departure
The 71-year-old admitted that he did not want the England international to leave, but insisted that Real’s offer - which he claimed amounts to around £15million - was simply to good to refuse.
Robson and chairman Freddy Shepherd now face the task of replacing a man whom the manager suggested when he signed him would be the defensive rock upon which the club would be based for years.
Shepherd has hinted that there could be good news for embittered Magpies’ fans within days, and while Robson was added nothing to that statement, he was quick to defend the decision to sell one of his prize assets.
“Newcastle isn’t a selling club, it’s a buying club,” he said.
“The chairman has proved that over the years, certainly with what I’ve had, what he gave Ruud Gullit, what he gave Kenny Dalglish and what he gave Kevin Keegan.
“But you have to try to balance the books, obviously buying and selling, and we’ve done that. I know to some degree what I’ve spent, but I also know what we took in as well.
“This is an extreme, exceptional, single-minded offer which basically we had to take. The offer has come in and the player has got wind of it. I don’t blame Jonathan in a way because he’s going to arguably the biggest club in the world.
“The power of Figo and Ronaldo, Zidane, Helguera, Beckham, Owen and now Woodgate. If you were in his shoes, what would you do?
“If you were in any walk of life in any capacity of job and that offer came to you, would you want it? Would you go? I don’t think you would even think twice about it.
“I’ve had a long conversation with Jonathan on a number of issues and he’s sorry to leave us. He’s actually said ‘Keep the number six shirt for me because I’ll be back at some stage’.
“But no-one is pleased that he’s gone because we know what we’ve lost. At his best, he’s the best in the country.
“That’s just my opinion - a lot of people say Sol Campbell, some people say Rio Ferdinand, some people say John Terry or whatever, and they all have a good argument, of course.
“But at his best, Jonathan was literally supreme and we’re sorry to see him go and so are all the players.
“It was a huge offer for a centre-half. He’s gone and that’s the end of it. We’ve got to get on with life.”
But it is understood that a replacement has been identified and there is an air of excitement behind the scenes at St James’ Park.
Shepherd was giving little away as the names of usual suspects William Gallas, Sami Hyypia and Michael Dawson among others were thrown into the ring yet again, but it would be no surprise if a new face is unveiled within days.
“All I would say is watch this space,” he said.
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