Michael Owen was flourishing at Liverpool before he decided to make a move to Real Madrid.
The English striker was one of the most prolific in the club’s history before he decided to leave for the Spanish club, but his legacy at the Reds was great before he made decisions that ruined his relationship with fans.
A treble winner and Ballon d’Or winner with Liverpool, the Madrid move was not the most favourable one with the fans; however, when he returned to the Premier League to play for Newcastle United and Manchester United, supporters turned.
As seen recently by the move of Trent Alexander-Arnold, favour with fans can quickly go depending on how you leave and where you go to, but for Owen to go to Manchester, it felt like a slap in the face.
It could not be understood why a fan of the club and a player near the Merseyside area would take the United move in 2009, given the history between the fan bases.
Michael Owen says he could resent Liverpool for not taking him back
According to the 45-year-old, the transfer saga of his career was not as cut and dry as he thinks people believe.
Owen wanted to join back up with Liverpool, but he says the club did not want him to return to Anfield on the multiple occasions he had asked.
READ MORE: Michael Owen says £12m player proved everyone wrong at Liverpool
In a video with Mashable India, the former star explained that he could have resented the club and the fans for the treatment he has received because of his transfer choices, but believes there is no need to hold grudges.
He explained: “If you know the story, when I left Newcastle, I was on the phone with Brendan Rodgers every single year. It’s Liverpool that didn’t want me back. By the end of Newcastle, Liverpool had Suarez, Torres, and this is absolutely fine, it’s football. I don’t hold any grudges against Liverpool for not taking me back.
“But I said ‘please take me, please take me,’ every single year. But I hold no grudges. That’s life; that’s football. But everyone holds a grudge against me. In theory, I could hold a grudge against Liverpool because ‘you said you’d buy me back, we had an agreement that you’d take me back.’ And it never happened, so I don’t hold this grudge, but the fans hold it against me.”
It is understandable from both the players’ and fans’ perspectives why there is so much resentment of his move.
The fans clearly felt a betrayal given his decision to go to their rivals, but of course, Owen clearly wanted to come back, even if the club did not want him.
Michael Owen says he would choose to go back to Liverpool now
His love of the club, whatever anyone thinks, is still apparent in any of his interviews; he is always complimentary and lauds Liverpool as an institution.
Interestingly, when asked which club he would choose to play for now, Owen said the Reds straight away, believing them to be the best in the world.
He said: “I think Liverpool. I think Liverpool are arguably the best team in the world right now.
“I know they didn’t win the recent Champions League, but I think in general, for the last five years, they’ve been very, very strong.”
It is interesting to hear his perspective on the club, given the strained relationship he has with them, but it feels as though fans will never forgive him for joining the Red Devils.
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