Michael Owen reignites Liverpool controversy nearly 17 years after Man Utd move

Michael Owen played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Stoke during his professional soccer career, winning the 2001 Ballon d'Or and the 2010-11 Premier League title

Michael Owen has no regrets at joining Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)

Michael Owen has risked angering Liverpool fans by revisiting his exit from the Merseyside club and controversial transfer to Manchester United.

The Ballon d'Or winner became a hero at Anfield after graduating from Liverpool's academy and scoring 158 first-team goals, winning several major trophies. He left for Real Madrid in 2004 before returning to English soccer a year later, joining Newcastle.

Owen remained a popular figure on Merseyside until he joined United, Liverpool's biggest rival, in 2009. The Englishman was booed upon his return to Anfield as a United player, but he doesn't regret his transfer to Old Trafford and playing for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Owen also would've returned to Anfield had the Reds offered him the chance to do so. "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, and it was my club. But Real Madrid don’t come in every day of the week, and recent history has shown that I’m not the only person who thought, 'Shall I give it a go?'"

Owen was referring to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who controversially ran down his Liverpool contract to force a move to Madrid last year. The ex-striker added: "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 (transfer fee).

Owen won the Premier League title at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)

"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."

Brendan Rodgers was appointed Liverpool's manager in 2012, around the same time that Owen's contract at United expired. The forward joined Stoke that summer and made just nine appearances for the Potters before retiring from professional soccer.

Owen's chances of being signed by Rodgers in 2012 would've been extremely slim after his three injury-hit seasons at Old Trafford. He managed just 52 appearances for United across all competitions, earning a Premier League winners' medal in 2011.

The fact that Owen won his Premier League medal with United, not Liverpool, did not go down well with the red half of Merseyside. But he's got no regrets. Owen continued: "When you get the opportunity to play for Sir Alex Ferguson and play for a great team, you have to do it. It came with the caveat that everyone is going to hate me.

"At the end of the day, you’re a footballer for a short time, and you have one career. I wanted to win things, play at the top, with great players, and a great manager. I had to go. I loved the responsibility of Sir Alex giving me the number 7 shirt.

"I felt that I was the man to take that pressure. My role was to bulk up the squad and score a goal when they needed a goal. I could fill in and score important goals, and be experienced and supportive."

Owen added: "I contributed a lot in that first year, but when I won the league, it was less of a contribution. I look back on it fondly, having some big moments and playing with the biggest legendary manager the Premier League has ever seen. To still be playing at that elite level when you’re nearing the end of your career, that is what I loved about it.

"Injuries are a killer, knowing you haven’t got the powers, and the mental strain as a player is so tough. That is what retired me. I can play 90 minutes now, but going out onto the pitch, being nervous of an injury affects your performance - it kills you."