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Michael Owen has faced accusations of being "disrespectful" after comments that angered his former Manchester United teammate Ben Foster.
The former England forward triggered controversy during his outspoken stint on the 'Rio Ferdinand Presents' podcast. Owen insisted he was superior to Wayne Rooney when both burst onto the Premier League scene at 17, with Owen doing so at Liverpool.
He subsequently reinforced this comparison on social media by highlighting their respective scoring records during their formative years. Rooney tactfully avoided engaging with the debate when questioned on his eponymous BBC programme, opting instead to commend Owen, whom he described as a "very different player" to himself.
Nevertheless, the former Real Madrid striker wasn't finished there, proceeding to brand Harry Kane "nuts" for his German switch just as he approached becoming the Premier League's all-time leading marksman.
Former United and Wrexham shot-stopper Foster, who shared a dressing room with Owen during the keeper's concluding campaign at Old Trafford in 2009-10, has now launched a scathing attack on his ex-colleague.
He branded him ungracious toward the six-time European champion Bayern Munich regarding his Kane remarks.
Foster proceeded to slam Owen for his lack of humility when drawing statistical comparisons with Rooney, while still recognizing his remarkable numbers. "It is a little bit disrespectful, without a doubt," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast.
"If you're listening to that as a Bayern Munich fan, you're saying, 'Hang on a minute, Michael, we're one of the biggest football clubs in the world.'
"I think it's definitely more aimed at the league. If he [Kane] had stayed in England, he would have been very much on his way to breaking that Alan Shearer record. I understand it, but just leave it. You haven't got to come for him, have you?
"There were a lot of things coming out of that interview, like the comparisons with Wayne Rooney and who was the best at 17 years old. He (Owen) was like nothing you've ever seen before. Don't get me wrong, Wayne Rooney was an absolute beast, but numbers wise, Michael Owen was on a different planet.
"The only difference is that Wayne Rooney, though, went on and did that in the Premier League for another 12, 13, or 14 years. There's not much modesty there, basically. I think with the career that he's had, just enjoy it mate, you've earned it."
Owen amassed an impressive haul of 222 goals across a 482-match club career, representing Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Stoke before retiring at 32 due to persistent injuries.
He also found the net 40 times in an England shirt. Rooney transferred to United from Everton when he was merely 18 and went on to become their record goalscorer with 253 strikes, securing five Premier League crowns and the Champions League along the way.
And Rooney netted a then-record 53 goals for England.
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