Michael Owen has candidly admitted joining Newcastle from Real Madrid remains one the biggest regrets from his playing career.
The former England striker was out of favour at the Bernabeu just a year after joining from Liverpool.
And despite pushing for a return to Anfield, the Reds could not match Newcastle’s £17 million offer, with the eventual decision to move to St. James’ Park one that still rankles with Owen.
“My move to Newcastle was one I really regret,” Owen says in his new book Reboot, serialised in the Mirror. “I should have followed my gut instincts from the start.
“I didn’t want to go there – my heart was still set on a return to Liverpool.
“Liverpool couldn’t match Newcastle’s offer. From a career perspective, there was no doubt in my mind that a move to the North East was a downward step.”
Despite being paid £120,000 per week, Owen grew disillusioned with Newcastle fans, with the final straw their reaction to him being stretchered off injured.
“When I got home, I switched on Match Of The Day to watch the game and I could hear Newcastle fans, my fans, singing ‘what a waste of money!’ as I’m being stretchered off,” Owen continues.
“I can’t deny their actions that day changed things for me. No longer was I even going to attempt to ingratiate myself with the fans.
“Instead, I flipped it in a slightly more resentful way thinking, I don’t need to justify myself to f***ing Newcastle fans.”
