nd and he
footballer and a good frie
like that. I had
did not deserve to die
World Cup
traveled back from the
going
had warned me about
with him and he
his
return. I’m so glad I took
out to soon on our
advice.”
ion as a player that
Off the pitch his reputat
entum to. In 1995
liked a party built up mom
air outside a disco
fired eight shots in the
he
sted and charged and
in Columbia. He was arre
ded sentence. In
ntually given a suspen
was eve
parties, late
ours of all night house
Parma rum
and a fight
with beautiful women
night liaisons
ing his
driver all surfaced dur
with a local bus
the
were quickly denied by
time in Italy but
opus’ in his home
player know as ‘The Oct
acious appetite.
land because of his vor
3 Cup Final
“ I admit I missed the 199
h a bus
ause of my argument wit
bec
hed into
er in Columbia. He cras
driv
ry. I got out
my car and I really ang
and tried to get onto the
of my car
he shut the
bus to confront him but
doors but my
bus doors. I kicked the
glass and I ended
foot went through the
party a lot when I
up injured. I did like to
ays had a fascination
was younger and I’ve alw
ch have both caused me
with guns and girls whi
past.”
a few problems in the
favour the following
o found himself out of
Tin
only six
in Italy and after making
season
ths of the
es in the opening five mon
appearanc
to Newcastle
nd himself on a plane
season fou
Premiership leaders
in February 1996 to join
Kevin
who were managed by
Newcastle United
e.
Keegan at the tim
a work
“Newcastle had to gain
the country
permit for me to enter
cult due to
which was proving diffi
they
firearms conviction but
my
e the issue and I flew to
overcam
ager
Newcastle to meet man
the
Kevin Keegan. Kevin sold
. He
club to me in one meeting
for
had such an enthusiasm
they
the club and the area and
at the
were top of the League
g at the club and it was
time. I remember arrivin
I had never seen that
snowing quite heavily.
re!”
type of white stuff befo
Geordie fans he
Christened Tino by the
es derby after
his debut in the Tyne/Te
made
pre-match
glass of red wine at the
sinking a
new team
to the amusement of his
meal much
ager.
nishment of his new man
mates and asto
’ts
about the dos and don
He had a lot to lean
ct his
football. It did not affe
of Premier League
t on to set up the winner
performance as he wen
ch. His first goal came
after coming off the ben
cartwheel celebration
soon after and his wild
St James Park in his
became a regular site at
son.
first sea
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21
Newcastle lost a 12 poin
t lead in the
Premiership that year
and were beaten to the
title by Manchester Uni
ted. Many neutral
fans and commentators
blamed the arrival of
Asprilla as the catalyst
for the Geordies failure
,
something he is keen to
dismiss.
“ One man cannot be guil
ty of a teams failure.
It was not meant to be.
Our team played some
wonderful attacking foot
ball, certainly the
best football in that leag
ue at that time, but we
conceded too many goa
ls. Manchester United
would win, 1-0 at home
and then 1-0 away.
Ultimately their two vict
ories over us won them
the title.”
During his spell at New
castle there were two
great clubs. One the bas
tion of invincibility at
St James Park and the
othe r a small nightclub
called ‘Julies’ on Newcas
tle’s Quayside which
Tino would frequent mos
t weeks.
“The Newcastle women
were referred to as
dogs by one of the own
ers but I always found
them to be very attracti
ve. They seemed to like
me to. It’s a city that nev
er sleeps and one of
the party capitals of the
world and that is why
I look at Newcastle as my
second home. My
soul is in Columbia but
my heart remains in
Newcastle.”
His career at Newcastle
was inconsistent
to say the least. His bes
t form came in the
following two seasons
again in the UEFA Cup
where he had perform
ed so well for Parma.
Five goals in the compet
ition in 1996 including
one against FC Metz whe
re he celebrated by
removing his shirt and
hoisting it into the air
on a corner flag and that
unforgettable hat-trick
niards Barcelona meant
against the mighty Spa
drink again
ld never have to buy a
that he wou
on Tyneside.
ts were very special
“ Those European nigh
with
castle. My celebration
and more so at New
way of telling the fans
the corner flag was my
uld be at the very top
that I felt Newcastle sho
t
their support. The nigh
of the world because of
mpions League
inst Barcelona in the Cha
aga
cial to me and I will
was of course very spe
third goal
et the feeling when the
never forg
tle and
bond I have with Newcas
went in. The
for that
down to that moment and
it’s people is
sed.
l. It’s a game I almost mis
I’m very gratefu
that
ny Dalglish was angry
The manager Ken
e from International
I had not returned on tim
an extra night to
duty. I had decided to stay
see my name on the
party. I was surprised to
it worked out well for
team sheet, but I guess
of us in the end.”
both
far away though and
Controversy was never
witness
o found himself in the
in 1997 Tin
giving
ark Crown Court, after
box at Southw
with
ow Columbian to help
money to a fell
issue. The friend was
an accommodation
in possession of 41.4g
subsequently arrested
nd guilty and jailed
of cocaine. He was fou
w nothing about his
for possession. Tino kne
had given him
nds habit but the story
frie
sons once again.
dlines for the wrong rea
hea
celona would
se three goals against Bar
Tho
pies and he
be his last for the Mag
prove to
CONTINUED
k to Parma in 1998
was sold bac
r Dalglish finally
with manage
Columbian
losing patience with the
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