Michael Owen saga ( 2005 version )

Poolman SG

Liverpool hope to land Real Madrid's Owen on cheap
tribalfootball.com - August 20, 2005

Liverpool are close to sealing a deal for Real Madrid striker Michael Owen for a knockdown £1 million.

Kop boss Rafa Benitez has increasingly come round to the prospect of re-signing the Real Madrid hitman.

Owen, 25, moved from Anfield to Real for £10m a year ago - but the Spanish giants made only a £4m down-payment while throwing in Antonio Nunez as part of the deal.

With Real still owing so much on the transfer, Benitez's hopes of bringing Owen home on the cheap have been boosted.

The Spaniards have further been backed into a corner because Manchester United are not interested, while the England striker is not keen on a switch to Newcastle.

Owen has already admitted to friends he is prepared to take a drop on his £80,000-a-week wages to get his dream move.

Benitez said: "I have said before that Michael is a good player but we have six strikers here and only two centre-backs.

"Maybe I should sign a central defender called Michael Owen then everyone can say that the story is true.

"The one thing I must do is make sure that when we sign a player, it is the right one. I don't want people saying in six months we got it wrong.

"I must just be focused on my own team and working with my players. Obviously, if we can sign players good enough for us, then we will try."

Wow ! Just 1 million pounds ? Shocked

And Benitez still denied ?

So ........ another ding-dong session from L'pool , Real Madrid and Owen ... again ?

Is Owen really coming back ?

Poolman SG

Morientes wants Owen at Liverpool
tribalfootball.com - August 20, 2005

Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes is keen to see Real Madrid ace Michael Owen join him at Anfield.

Owen has been linked with a return to Liverpool after leaving Anfield last season but finding himself fifth-choice striker at Real - and Morientes would welcome the 25-year-old's return.

"It's very difficult for any player when you find yourself on the bench," Morientes told The Sun. "Owen knows his situation at Real and what he has to do.

"I imagine he feels the same as I do. That he really wants to play. And when you are not in the team then you have to pack your bags and go to another club.

"If a player is going to sign for us, who would be better than Owen - and we're all waiting to see if he does come.

"I hope Liverpool get him and if he does sign again for us I will be the first one to be happy because he is a great player that would definitely benefit the club.

"Owen knows everything about Liverpool because he was a great player for the club before he left."

Morientes added: "I know from personal experience what a good player he is because we played a few games alongside each other for Real Madrid. It worked well and we both scored in the games we played together."

Båseline SG

After the Essien's The-days-of-our-lives type of long transfer saga, this one follows suit. Mr. Green

Poolman SG

Owen ready for L'pool return ... or Newcastle .

Real Madrid's Michael Owen wants to return to Liverpool but is prepared to spend this season on loan at Newcastle if a move to Anfield cannot be agreed.
Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised to help the 25-year-old England forward return home.

"I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid team and if not I would prefer to return to Liverpool," Owen said.

"If the transfer cannot be finalised in time I have agreed to go to Newcastle."

Owen spent much of his first season at the Bernabeu coming off the bench and the arrivals of Brazilian strikers Robinho and Julio Baptista this summer have seen him slip further down the pecking order.

I have really enjoyed being part of his Real Madrid team

The former Liverpool star had earlier indicated he was willing to stay and fight for his place, but has now had a change of heart.

He added: "I need to be playing regularly in World Cup year.

"I am most grateful to Senor Perez for his personal concern about my career. I have really enjoyed being part of his Real Madrid team."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists his main priority is to sign a centre-back and already has Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch as his frontline strikers.

But Owen's return to Anfield would be welcomed by Liverpool fans, having scored 158 goals in 297 games in his first spell at the club.

dcx SG

Seriously, i believe Own’s return to Liverpool will boost the morale of the players (Stevie & Morientes & Jamie Carr.especially)....

iveco SG

Michael Owen wants to go back to former club Liverpool or move to Newcastle United on loan to give him the best possible preparation for the World Cup next summer.

The England striker, 25, has the blessing of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has promised to help him to try to seal a return to Anfield.

Failing that, the player is prepared to accept a one-year loan deal with Newcastle, with his first-team chances at the Bernabeu further limited by the summer signings of Brazilians Robinho and Julio Baptista.

Owen said: I met the Real Madrid president before [Tuesday nights] friendly at the Bernabeu and we discussed my future.

I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid team and if not I would prefer to return to Liverpool.

The president understood and said he would try to help me achieve this. If the transfer cannot be finalised in time I have agreed to go to Newcastle United but only on a one-year loan. I need to be playing regularly in World Cup year.

I am most grateful to Senor Perez for his personal concern about my career. I have really enjoyed being part of his Real Madrid team.

MICHAEL OWEN: FACTFILE

Owen scored 158 goals in 297 games for the Reds, before leaving Merseyside for Madrid last summer.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists his main priority is to sign a centre-back and already has Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch as his frontline strikers.

I want other players first, I am happy with my five strikers even now Milan Baros has gone, the Spaniard said after his sides 3-2 aggregate win over CSKA Sofia in the Champions League.

The move would be a popular one among the clubs supporters, who idolised Owen during his time at the club.

He scored 16 goals for Real last season despite being used primarily as a substitute behind Raul and Ronaldo, and with Robinho and Julio Baptista now on board his prospects of first-team football diminished further.

Newcastle are desperate to recruit a striker and have struggled through the first two games of the Barclays Premiership season with Alan Shearer on his own up front.

Owen revealed earlier this month he had held brief dialogue with three or four Premiership clubs, and on August 8 the Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd admitted contacting Real Madrid with a view to a move.

On Tuesday, Everton manager David Moyes revealed his club had spoken to Owens representatives, but the player rejected a move to Goodison Park.

Hope Perez & Benitez screw things up, leaving him free to play @ St James Park for the rest of the season. Very Happy

CoolMyth SG

Latest say that Newcastle has met Real Madrid's fee for Owen and have gone into discussion with Owen.

If Owen goes to Newcastle and stays there forever, it's the end of Owen.

Future England strike force: Rooney + Crouch! Laughing

Takumi2eLimit SG

it's a club record fee mind u! Laughing

waitrose SG

Well. Owen will not go to Newcastle permanantly. First of all, the reason why he is desperate to leave is to play footy regularly this year since it is a World Cup year. But after that, what? Owen craves for European football. That's the reason why he left Anfield in the first place. Can Newcastle give him that? I don't think so. They may even have problems getting that UEFA Cup place, let alone Champions League.

I think there are more twist to this saga yet. Now that Newcastle has made their move, Liverpool will follow suit. But it won't be that high a price. So it's a matter of whether Real will want to accept our offer.

CoolMyth SG

My prediction is that Owen will go to Newcastle, then want to leave for a greener field but again no teams wants him, so he LL stay at Newcastle and become Alan Shearer successer. Cool

Medicated Oil SG

Mickey Mouse have deserted Liverpool once.

So, after "making use" of Liverpool to get out of Real Madrid, he may leave after one season to go back to Real Madrid.

That is why Ah Ben dun want him back the first place.

But, I guess his boss, Micheal Moores want Mickey to be back.

Liverpool is really having a striker crisis.

iveco SG

If they were having striker crisis, why did they loan LeTellec to Sunderland?

Goondu74 SG

I think his 'striker crisis' meant all the strikers cannot score instead of not enough strikers. With Le Tallac around still considered 'crisis' cause his strike rate not good

iveco SG

Well, I can also say Newcastle also has a similar problem in that case.

Goondu74 SG

Definately! If not why would they pay 15.5M when madrid only rate Owen at ard 11M? Not many strikers would want to move to the North East, cold and depressing!

iveco SG

How true it is. The Magpies have no good strikers left after Craig Bellamy's departure. Alan Shearer has little time left, while Patrick Kluivert was shown to be a flop. Michael Owen is a proven goalscorer, and Newcastle's willingness to bid up to 15m pounds shows they are serious about bringing him on board.

It has always been a dream of mine to see Owen wearing the Black & White of Newcastle United Football Club and banging in the goals alongside Shearer.