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Michael Owen has been attempting to explain his transfer move away from Liverpool to join Real Madrid, with the former England ace later playing for Manchester United
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen says he always wanted to return to Anfield after playing for Real Madrid, but the club let him down after a broken promise.
Owen later went on to sign for Manchester United, first returning to the Premier League with Newcastle. His move to Old Trafford, where he won a league title under Alex Ferguson, tarnished his reputation among Reds fans for life.
"It broke my heart leaving Liverpool," Owen told Midnite. "I joined them when I was 10, me and Steven Gerrard tearing it up in youth football for years and years. It was my club.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah agreement reached as Liverpool handed transfer solution for 2026READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals why Hugo Ekitike needed convincing on Liverpool plan as new Isak backup emerges"But Real Madrid don’t come in every day of the week. Recent history has shown that I’m not the only person who thought, ‘Shall I give it a go?’.
"And then of course after that, I tried at every opportunity to come back to Liverpool. I did have a handshake with the club that after a year or two years, I would come back.
"Now fast forward to when I was ready to leave Madrid, we were nearly there on a deal, but then Newcastle came in and offered twice the money.
"At no point after that did Liverpool want me back, and at every stage, I tried to come back. I could actually say, if I was a bitter person, that I resent the club, because they broke the handshake.
"Brendan Rodgers had lots of opportunities and chose not to. It takes two to tango."
Liverpool fans didn't turn against Owen so much for him leaving, but for joining Manchester United.
That move, he has previously claimed, was the only viable option available to him at the time.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, was the player Owen referred to when he spoke of others being tempted by Real Madrid. That comparison, though, is hardly likely to get Reds fans back onside.
When he returned to Merseyside in the Champions League, Alexander-Arnold was jeered by the home supporters.
He left for a small fee near the end of his contract in the summer but hasn't fully settled under Xabi Alonso since.
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