January 20th 2025.
The news sent shockwaves through the football community and caused quite a stir among fans. Many were not happy with the decision that was made and it caused quite a bit of controversy. The transfer in question was none other than Michael Owen's move to Manchester United, a move that had some difficult and emotional consequences for the striker when he returned to his boyhood club, Liverpool.
Owen had been a part of Liverpool's academy since the tender age of 12 and he quickly made a name for himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League. In 1996, he made his debut for the first team and it was clear that he was a force to be reckoned with. Blessed with incredible speed and a knack for scoring, Owen became the joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League in his first full season with Liverpool. He continued to be the club's top scorer from 1997 to 2004.
Not only was Owen making a name for himself at his beloved club, but he was also establishing himself as a regular for the England national team. He played a crucial role in helping Liverpool win a cup treble in 2001 and even went on to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award later that year, beating out the likes of Real Madrid's Raul and Bayern Munich's Oliver Kahn.
But as Liverpool started to fall behind their Premier League rivals in the early 2000s, Owen made the difficult decision to leave Anfield. In 2004, he joined Real Madrid, ending his time at Liverpool with an impressive record of 158 goals in 297 appearances. However, his stay at the Bernabeu was short-lived as he returned to the Premier League after just one year. Newcastle United secured his signature, as a potential return to Liverpool was blocked by Real Madrid.
Unfortunately, Owen's time at Newcastle was plagued by injuries and he eventually made a surprising move to Manchester United for the 2009-10 season. Despite not getting much game-time at Old Trafford, he did manage to get his hands on the Premier League trophy and also helped United win the League Cup in 2010, scoring in the final against Aston Villa.
Reflecting on his career, Owen has no regrets about joining Manchester United, but he does admit that it created an uncomfortable atmosphere when he returned to Liverpool. The Anfield faithful would often jeer at him, making it a difficult experience for the striker. "I'm respected at Man United; the derby winner, Champions League hat-trick, goal in a cup final," Owen said in a recent interview. "But when I go through the doors at Liverpool, it's in my heart. I hated going back as a player. It felt like I was punching my brother. Being booed, I felt sick. My parents were shot to bits."
Now retired from football, Owen has gone into punditry and has been working mainly for TNT Sports and Premier League Productions. He may have left the game, but he still follows Liverpool closely and has a deep desire to leave a legacy like his former teammates, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. "They won the Champions League the season I left. I wanted my mates to win, absolutely, but part of me was gutted, 'God, that could have been me.' I have to accept that. It was my decision to leave."
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