{"id":656604,"date":"2025-12-26T21:27:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T21:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/656604\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T21:27:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T21:27:34","slug":"michael-owen-claims-liverpool-broke-transfer-promise-before-controversial-man-utd-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/656604\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Owen claims Liverpool broke transfer promise before controversial Man Utd move"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Michael Owen has been attempting to explain his transfer move away from Liverpool to join Real Madrid, with the former England ace later playing for Manchester United<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Screenshot-2025-12-26-195505.jpg\" alt=\"Former Premier League striker Michael Owen.\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Former Premier League striker Michael Owen.(Image: Midnite Sports \/\/ YouTube)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen says he always wanted to return to Anfield after playing for Real Madrid, but the club let him down after a broken promise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Owen later <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/liverpool-fc-news\/features\/michael-own-liverpool-manchester-united-29846718\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">went on to sign for Manchester United<\/a>, first returning to the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/premier-league\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Premier League<\/a> with Newcastle. His move to Old Trafford, where he won a league title under Alex Ferguson, tarnished his reputation among Reds fans for life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It broke my heart leaving Liverpool,&#8221; Owen told <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=F7YcM9a1FPk\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Midnite<\/a>. &#8220;I joined them when I was 10, me and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/all-about\/steven-gerrard\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Steven Gerrard<\/a> tearing it up in youth football for years and years. It was my club.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/liverpool-fc-news\/features\/mohamed-salah-agreement-liverpool-transfer-33086319\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33086319\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mohamed Salah agreement reached as Liverpool handed transfer solution for 2026<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/liverpool-fc-news\/features\/slot-hugo-ekitike-liverpool-isak-33124390\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33124390\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arne Slot reveals why Hugo Ekitike needed convincing on Liverpool plan as new Isak backup emerges<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;But <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/all-about\/real-madrid-cf\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Real Madrid<\/a> don\u2019t come in every day of the week. Recent history has shown that I\u2019m not the only person who thought, \u2018Shall I give it a go?\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;And then of course after that, I tried at every opportunity to come back to Liverpool. I did have a handshake with the club that after a year or two years, I would come back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Now fast forward to when I was ready to leave Madrid, we were nearly there on a deal, but then <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/all-about\/newcastle-united-fc\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Newcastle<\/a> came in and offered twice the money.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_GettyImages-2235415240.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Owen and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Michael Owen and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;At no point after that did Liverpool want me back, and at every stage, I tried to come back. I could actually say, if I was a bitter person, that I resent the club, because they broke the handshake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Brendan Rodgers had lots of opportunities and chose not to. It takes two to tango.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Liverpool fans didn&#8217;t turn against Owen so much for him leaving, but for joining <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/all-about\/manchester-united-fc\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Manchester United<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That move, he has previously claimed, was the only viable option available to him at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Get LFC&#8217;s 2025\/26 season home and away kits<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/affiliates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Liverpools-new-kit-at-the-re-opened-club-shop-at-AnfieldPic-Andrew-Teebay.jpg\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p>From $100<\/p>\n<p>LFC.com<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1761262&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.liverpoolfc.com%2Fkit%2Fshop-all-kit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">See the deal<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Liverpool&#8217;s home and away strips for the 2025\/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Fans can order jerseys in the US at <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1761262&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanatics.com%2Fpremier-league%2Fliverpool%2Fo-76979351%2Bt-47645574%2Bz-84-1546382747\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Fanatics.com<\/a> or via the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1761262&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.liverpoolfc.com%2Fkit%2Fshop-all-kit\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">LFC Online Store<\/a> in both the US and across the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, was the player Owen referred to when he spoke of others being tempted by Real Madrid. That comparison, though, is hardly likely to get Reds fans back onside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When he returned to Merseyside in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/all-about\/champions-league\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Champions League<\/a>, Alexander-Arnold was jeered by the home supporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He left for a small fee near the end of his contract in the summer but hasn&#8217;t fully settled under <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.com\/all-about\/xabi-alonso\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Xabi Alonso<\/a> since.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Michael Owen has been attempting to explain his transfer move away from Liverpool to join Real Madrid, with&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":656605,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,393,4884,179,763,2719,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-656604","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-liverpool","12":"tag-liverpool-fc","13":"tag-michael-owen","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115787993089388548","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=656604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656604\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/656605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=656604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=656604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=656604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}