The former Bolton chief scout says the breakthrough came during a secret meeting in Paris with then-manager Sam Allardyce.
“We met him at Charles de Gaulle,” Worthington told Football Presse.
“We showed him where he’d live, what the club was about. But the big thing? He never took his eyes off Sam.”
Anelka, once one of Europe’s most gifted forwards, had been criticised for his attitude after spells at Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester City. But Worthington saw something different.
“He listened to every single word. He’s a deep man.”
Two days later, the deal was done.
Anelka went on to score 21 goals in his first season before earning a big-money move to Chelsea, where he later won the Premier League and the Golden Boot.
Could he have won the Ballon d’Or?
“He had the ability,” Worthington insisted.
“But you’ve got to be at a big club to win that.”
Bolton might not have been that stage.
But for one season, Anelka was box office.