Owen To Man Utd?

mr_angry

From Football365:

Football365 wrote:

Man Utd in pole to sign Owen
Friday June 10 2005

Manchester United are reportedly in pole position to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid.

Owen has been strongly linked with a move back to the Premiership despite a relatively successful first season at the Bernabeu.

And Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson would love to pair Owen with England striker partner Wayne Rooney in a mouthwatering strike force.

Fergie has asked Real to be kept informed about Owen's situation, and the Spanish giants say they'll give United the nod if they do decide to sell.

A United source told the Daily Star: "Michael is a proven goalscorer at every level of the game so the boss knows what he can do and what he could bring to United.

"He would be a great signing for the club, especially as he knows players like Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville."

United would have to find £15million to land Owen, and any signing would throw Ruud van Nistelrooy's Old Trafford future into doubt.

A number of papers seem to be running this story today. I have to say, I'd be shocked if it was true. Owen knows he would be disowned by the Liverpool fans if he joined United. Odd though that the article talks about him being paired with Rooney... more speculation on Van Nistelrooy implied?

spockety

Real can give Man Utd all the nods they want, but Liverpool have first refusal on him

cournioni

Why would we want to sell van Nistelrooy for a worse striker?

Draupnir

Owen is a great striker when in good form and himself and Wayne Rooney do well together, Im undecided as of yet on Rooney and RvN as a partnership. Id prefer RvN to Owen, but not if they sign Owen and he bangs in 30 goals a season.

This whole Liverpool first refusal business sounds unlikely, first refusal days are long gone. Football is too commercial and money driven for anything like that to stick anymore. maybe madrid would inform Liverpool that another bid has been made so feel free to bid too if ya like, but they wont turn down a clubs money to offer Liverpool first refusal.

mr_angry

PORNAPSTER wrote:

Why would we want to sell van Nistelrooy for a worse striker?

*cough* Serious injury prognosis? *cough*

~Rebel~

Liverpool definately have a first rufusal clause in the contract. Obviously they would have to bid for him, or else pass their option meaning man u could buy, but interestingly the first refusal combined with Owen being able to decide where he goes (obviously has to agree terms with the future club) could mean pool getting him back for less then man u would have bid. Personally dont think theres any chance of him going to Utd, whatever about arsenal or something but noway he'd go to Utd, his whole family is in liverpool and would be run out of it, not to mention the absolute hatred he'd get whenever he went homeward.

Draupnir

his family dont live in Liverpool, he bought a row of about 8 houses for his family in a fancy estate about 5 years ago in the countryside somewhere. a private housing estate almost.

anyway, its a business. Alan Smith went to United didnt he, and that was ten times worse.

~Rebel~

i thought that private row dealy was in liverpool countryside, could be wrong tho. just think he wont be opting for man u, if for nothing else just that he can do better if arsenal, barca, chelsea interested, especially given the intense rivalry and the fact he'd probably not wanna lose liverpool support.

PiE

He lost most of his "Liverpool support" when he dicked around contract negotiations last summer, so I doubt he has much left to lose by joining Utd.

~Rebel~

At this stage id say most fans would welcome him back. he got his just deserts already by missing out on the champions league win. Not sure what the plus's of him going to utd are though...not guaranteed first team football, not guaranteed to win anything, other clubs will probably be interested if hes for sale, like arsenal, barca, chelsea, i think inter and juvé had some interest too and of course none of these clubs have a bitter rivalry with where he's from. Just dont see how it would be the best option for him at all really, though of course i am one of the "liverpool scum" fans.

Keano_sli

In fairness if United wanted him he would probably go, like all other footballers he is in the game to make money while he can and fooling yourself that some "loyalty" to Liverpool would prevent him maximising his earnings in a short career is just being blinkered!

Not that it is likely that he will be going to United!

Chucky the tree

Rafa wouldnt touch him with a barge poll so the first refusal clause wont matter. HE would go to united, he should by shafting us last summer he doesnt care about liverpool fans.

Cactus Col

Why not go to Man United .. if he's not happy at real, and Liverpool don't want him, then screw Liverpool and their fans.

wheres me jumpa

i doubt man united are going to spend money on a striker this season. i dont believe it for one second myself but a lot of people are suggesting ruud could go. i hope this doesnt happen but if it does i imagine a swap with madrid would be ideal for both clubs.

id sooner have ruud but ive really gotten to like owen lately.

segadreamcast

It's not so much if Owen wants Liverpool lads - it's more if Liverpool wants Owen and, the simple answer is, they probably don't.

He doesn't seem to have 'it' anymore in my opinion - he hasn't had whatever 'it' was for about 2-3 years now.

Mitch Connor

NoelRock wrote:

It's not so much if Owen wants Liverpool lads - it's more if Liverpool wants Owen and, the simple answer is, they probably don't.

He doesn't seem to have 'it' anymore in my opinion - he hasn't had whatever 'it' was for about 2-3 years now.

i think 'it' was a certainty that really opening up and running at full speed wasn't going to see him out injured for months with a hammy. His confidence has been knocked by the multiple strains, and i reckon it has been nagging at him for the last few years. i reckon that is the problem, or at least a big part of it.

ButcherOfNog

lol, utd buying another striker .... yup thats what they really need, the mind boggles.

PHB

They just make it up.

p.s. to all the Liverpool fans who think that Liverpool is above Owen, I gaurentee if Rafa had a chance to sign a player like Owen he'd do it in a second

jesus_thats_gre

PHB, has Bannor not already stated he did but he said no.

Shred

I think it's fairly common knowledge that Owen was given some assistance with packing when he was (ahem) *leaving* last year. He'd been acting the bollocks over his contract for ages and Rafa had had enough, I'm not sure he'd have him back TBH. I (and a lot of LFC fans) would probably have him back though and I'd be shocked if he did go to united. I reckon he'll stay for another year at Madrid and try and make a success of it there.

PHB

I would imagine Benetiz would have said no at that price, cause he can get two spanish players of closish quality for 15 million.
However I'd think, that a manager the quality of Benetiz would jump at the chance to play with a striker the quality of Owen.

---

p.s.
This all arises cause of Ronaldos contract talks stalling.
Fergie would never sell Ronaldo, because he is building his team around Ronaldo and Rooney.
Ronaldo wants lots of money, United are like no, ronaldo will get linked to very club in existance, Ronaldo gets new contract
Contract talks are stalling cause, well theres no great rush, theres two more years on his contract, but moreso that he wants wages of Keano level, and MAn UTd aren't willing to

jank

Ronaldo just wants to make a name for himself then **** off back to Spain.

Liverpool have first option PHB so I dont know what you are saying.

Arsenal were linked to owen as well. Would be a good buy for them.

Brian017

From SportingLife:

Real Madrid could offer Manchester United £10million plus Michael Owen in exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Saturday's newspapers.

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has made no secret of his desire to see Owen link up with England colleague Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford following the Reds' goalscoring problems last season.

And Spanish giants Madrid - still looking their wounds following an early Champions League exit and Barcelona's La Liga title triumph - have made it equally clear they want to freshen up their midfield with Ronaldo.

Real sporting director Arrigo Sacchi said of the 20-year-old Portuguese winger: "The quality that he has and his age mean he would be welcome at any club in the world."

Real coach Wanderley Luxemburgo is just as big a fan, so has instructed Bernabeu bosses to tempt United with a carrot of a cash deal plus Owen, who failed to dislodge Brazil hitman Ronaldo and Spanish forward Raul from their regular first-team spots last season.

Chucky the tree

PHB wrote:

I would imagine Benetiz would have said no at that price, cause he can get two spanish players of closish quality for 15 million.
However I'd think, that a manager the quality of Benetiz would jump at the chance to play with a striker the quality of Owen.

WIth the quality of Owen, but not OWen himself. THeres a difference.