Michael Owen: I was desperate for a Liverpool return

Michael Owen

Michael Owen has revealed his regret at never returning for a second spell at table toppers Liverpool, but insists that the chance to join Real Madrid was one that he could not turn down.

The BT Sports pundit joined Real in 2004, but told Sportlobster that he always planned to see out his career at Anfield before the move presented itself.

“It was never my intention to leave Liverpool. I had always thought I’d be a one club man,” said the former England striker, who eventually moved back to England with spells at Newcastle and Manchester United.

“I was in America on a pre-season tour when my phone rang with the news. My agent told me that Real Madrid had been in touch and wanted to sign me. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“After a week of changing my mind one way and another, I decided that if I didn’t give it a go I could regret it for the rest of my life. Like Ian Rush before me, the plan was that I could always come back (well that was my plan!)”

Owen describes his year in Madrid as a great experience, but admits that he regrets not being able to rejoin Liverpool upon his return to the Premier League.

“It was a season I will never forget,” he said of his time in Madrid.

“A great experience both on and off the field. Wearing that famous white kit, strutting my stuff at an iconic stadium and sharing a pitch with the likes of Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham, Raul, Carlos and Zidane was the stuff of dreams.

“As I thought, I was able to adapt my game to a different style and playing 43 games and notching 19 goals in the process was a record to be proud of.

“The only drawback from my decision to head to Madrid was, that after a year in Spain, I didn’t manage to rejoin my boyhood team.”