Michael Owen defends his choice to join United afterwards
According to Sports.
Why it matters
Michael Owen's choice to move to Manchester United after leaving Liverpool marked a controversial moment in the history of English football. For Liverpool fans, the move represents a breach of ethical standards, given the deep connection Owen had with the club, having grown up in the academy and scored 158 goals. This episode continues to influence fans' perception of players who decide to join arch-rivals.
Key points
- Michael Owen defends his choice to join United afterwards.
- Michael Owen reflects on his controversial choice to leave Liverpool for Manchester United, defending his decision but acknowledging the anger it sparked among Liverpool fans.
- Michael Owen defends his choice to join Manchester United after dramatic Liverpool exit - Yahoo Sports.
Liverpool fans can accept a lot of things. They can accept that a player wants a new challenge. They can accept that quality clubs surround a player. They can even accept a move abroad if the circumstances make it make sense. What they don't accept, and what they rarely forget, is a player crossing a line they consider non-negotiable. That's why the reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid evoked familiar feelings. It had already happened in the past and the precedent remains Michael Owen. In his case, however, the real problem was not Real Madrid, but Manchester United. Owen scored 158 goals for Liverpool, grew up in the academy and won the Ballon d'Or in 2001. On paper, this should guarantee lasting adoration. But football doesn't work that way. Legacy isn't just built on goals and trophies, it's shaped by choices, timing and who you choose to represent after leaving a club. Seventeen years after joining United, Owen repeated the same argument. He understands why people are angry, but he doesn't regret his choice. That line of thinking has been constant and so has the response from Liverpool fans. His explanation is simple: Liverpool didn't step up when he wanted to return. He claims to have made this known. He claims he made the call. He states that the door remained closed. From his perspective, what came next was a matter of professionalism rather than betrayal. As he himself stated: "I think the first club to be interested in me was Hull City, then Everton. And there I was thinking: 'with all due respect, I think I'm too good for Hull'. And just as I was deciding what to do and hoping that other teams would come forward to give me a choice, Sir Alex Ferguson called me. In the meantime, of course, I had called Liverpool to see if they were interested in buying me back, but they weren't. "Obviously I thought, 'oh, the Liverpool fans are going to hate me if I sign here'. But what do you want me to do? You know, if the Liverpool fans knew what had actually happened behind the scenes, which was that I had practically begged [Rafa] Benitez, if they knew the story, then they would think very differently. But obviously I can't tell them that." And then the line that is sure to rile up a lot of people in Liverpool: "The last thing I want is to apologize for going to Manchester United, because the fans there were great to me, the people were great to me, I loved my time there. But I also understand that for people who don't know the back of it to think 'you played for them, you played for them, right? That must mean you're a traitor or you're not loyal or it must mean something else'. I just have to accept that." This is at least an honest position. It is also why opinions are destined not to change. Liverpool fans listen to the context, then return to the same point. You wore that shirt. For many, there is no appeal beyond that. The important detail in all this is that Owen always framed his departure from Liverpool in 2004 as a temporary departure. He didn't see Real Madrid as a permanent break with the Reds. He believed he could follow Ian Rush's path, that is, leave for another club like Juventus and then return. He stated: "Well, leaving Liverpool was probably the hardest decision of my career. I never thought it would happen one day, I certainly didn't think that." And then came the offer that changed everything. "And when I had the opportunity, when my agent rang me and said that Madrid were interested in signing me, well, to say that I was torn would be an understatement. "I never thought and I never wanted to leave Liverpool, but I could be here now talking to you and saying 'you know, I was offered to go to Real Madrid at one point and I said no, and I never wanted to know what it was like to go there'. Part of me said 'don't worry, you can always come back, Ian Rush did it. He left to go to Juventus and then came back.' And I think that's what finally convinced me to say 'yes, I have to go and I have to try'. "Obviously I went to Madrid, I had a great experience, but when I wanted to come back, it was never possible, it wasn't possible for different reasons." That version of events is central to understanding Michael Owen. He didn't believe he had left Liverpool forever. He believed he had taken an alternative path and that one day he would return to wearing the Liverpool shirt. It was also a practical question. By the time Manchester United came for him, Owen was no longer the explosive striker he had left Anfield. Injuries had severely affected his career. Its market had changed. The clubs interested in him reflected his new condition. For Owen, it wasn't a glamorous decision in the traditional sense. It was one of the few top club opportunities still available to him. A footballer with fewer and fewer options available took the biggest option available. The real question on which it all depends was made much earlier, when Liverpool attempted to bring Owen back to Liverpool. The amount of the offer bears witness to this. Liverpool were ready to pay £10m to buy him back, but Newcastle offered £16m. The then Real Madrid president, predictably, wanted the higher figure. Owen explained everything in very simple terms: "Liverpool were ready to pay 10 million for me, but just when I was thinking of going there, Newcastle put 16 million on the table for Real Madrid, and the president at the time came to me and said: 'you either stay at Real Madrid or you have to go to Newcastle, one of the two. But unless Liverpool offer 16 million, you're not going there'." That was the crucial question. If Liverpool had matched the offer, Owen's whole career would most likely have taken a different turn. There would have been no diversion for Newcastle, no move for United and above all there would have been no permanent stain on Owen's legacy at Liverpool. However, fans don't judge hypotheticals, they judge results. Owen can say he wanted to come back, he can say he begged for a second chance, he can say Manchester United gave him a home when Liverpool didn't. All this may well be true. However, little changes. For Liverpool fans the question is simple. Many footballers leave. However, many do not return after having been to another club and above all they do not return after having been to another rival club, such as Manchester United. A question of this type has never arisen again for any other footballer. This is why there is still anger, this is why his choice not to apologize keeps the topic alive. He has every right to defend his career. The fans have every right to decide that they will never see him the same way again. Those reactions are part of football. They are emotional, tribal and often unforgivable reactions. In Owen's case, the facts have been laid out time and time again. Feelings were too. Neither side has moved and at this point neither side is destined to move.
What happens now
Owen reiterated that he does not regret his decision, despite the negative reaction from Liverpool fans. As the next summer transfer window approaches, the debate over how players manage their careers and the choices they make could re-emerge, especially as clubs look to strengthen their squads with new additions, including potential midfielders. His story remains a warning about how career choices can affect a player's reputation in the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is involved in this article?
The article talks about Michael Owen, former Liverpool and Manchester United player.
Where did Michael Owen come from before joining United?
Michael Owen comes from Liverpool, where he scored 158 goals and won the Ballon d'Or in 2001.
Why did Michael Owen choose to go to United?
Owen said Liverpool didn't step up when he wanted to return, so he chose to join Manchester United.
What is the status of Michael Owen's transfer?
Michael Owen joined Manchester United 17 years ago following his departure from Liverpool.
What role did Michael Owen have in Manchester United?
Owen played for Manchester United after leaving Liverpool, but the article does not specify his exact role.
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