'It hurts a lot': Michael Owen admits he doesn't feel welcome at Liverpool after controversial transfer
Michael Owen admits he does not feel welcome at his former club Liverpool, twenty years after leaving Anfield.
owen joined Liverpool He was just 12 years old and broke into the first team in 1997 before soon becoming a regular in the England team.
He 44 yearswho wins six major honors on Merseyside, remains the club's seventh top scorer, having scored an impressive 158 goals in 297 games for the Reds.
Owen's exploits on Merseyside saw him win the Ballon d'Or in 2001, the last Englishman to lift the coveted award.
He left the club in 2004 for the bright lights of real Madrid for a fee of £8 million, which also saw Antonio Núñez move in the opposite direction.
Owen returned to the Premier League 12 months later to join Newcastlebut it was his next destination that caused a stir among Liverpool fans.
Owen, a free agent at the time, signed a contract with Liverpool's bitter rivals. manchester united in 2009 and lifted the Premier League title with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011.
As a result, his relationship with Liverpool has deteriorated beyond repair, and Owen admits it is painful for him every time he returns to the club.
“I don't feel welcome or loved and it hurts a lot, so I'd rather avoid it,” Owen said. The Athletic.
He also admitted that his heart still “bursts with pride” every time he approaches Anfield.
Owen also stated that his plan ultimately never came to fruition, as his idea was to experience Madrid for a season or two before returning to Anfield, very similar to the path taken by Ian Rush after his time at Juventus in the decade. from 1980.
But Owen quickly discovered that his options had been quickly snatched away from him, especially when Newcastle came calling with a sizeable offer.
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“Real Madrid is a glamorous club, but I never thought or dreamed of playing for them,” he explained.
“When I found out about his interest, I had mixed emotions. It was an honor that a club like that was interested in me. I guess there was an intrigue.
“I went around and around for almost a week from the moment I heard about the interest and decided to go.
“I spoke to the manager (Rafa Benítez) and I spoke to Rick Parry (chief executive). It was like, 'Let's agree that I'll work for a year or two and then I'll come back.'
“Unconsciously, that was what I needed, peace of mind. I really didn't want to leave, Liverpool was my club. But I also wondered if I would end up regretting it if I didn't try.”
After leaving St James' Park in 2009, Owen was offered two reputable options as he attempts to get his career back on track after a succession of injuries.
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As well as interest from Manchester United, the former England international held talks with Liverpool's city rival Everton.
As a former Red, Owen was tasked with retiring or choosing the lesser of both evils, knowing his reputation at Anfield would be in tatters no matter which option he took.
Recalling his move to Old Trafford, Owen explained that the lure of trophies and working with Ferguson was too hard to turn down.
“Two days after returning from a meeting with Everton manager David Moyes, I was having a quiet day at home when nicky buttThe name popped up on my phone,” Owen previously said.
“'Get ready, Sir Alex is going to call you,' he said. 'Okay,' I said. 'Yes. I think he wants to hire you,' Nicky told me.
“I couldn't believe it. I walked into the lounge and told Louise. My head was spinning at the thought of having the opportunity to be at a club where winning trophies was the norm.
“The big games, the Champions League, 75,000 fans at every game… we were both excited.
“For the next hour, I literally sat in the hallway looking at my phone and all of a sudden it rang. It was a private number. I don't usually answer those, but this time was an exception.
“I let it ring for five or six seconds before answering. It was him. After some banter, Sir Alex invited me to his house the next day.
“I barely slept. Mindful of making a good first impression, I carefully chose my clothes and drove there early, parked in a supermarket parking lot half a mile from her house and sat there fifteen minutes before the agreed upon time.
“The goal was to arrive ten minutes early. I was desperate to impress him in every way. I drove to his house and pressed the doorbell.
“I obviously knew him given our shared interest and connections in horse racing, so we probably spent more time talking racing than football in that first meeting.
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“Interestingly, I don't think he ever directly said he wanted to sign me. It was just assumed by both parties.
“I left knowing I was probably about to become a Manchester United player. Tony Stephens, my agent, hadn't even spoken to David Gill.”
Owen scored 17 goals in 52 games for Manchester United, winning the Premier League title and League Cup during his three years.
