There is news being touted around that Manchester United will try to sign Michael Owen in the summer.
Michael Owen
Apparently the news is there is a get out clause ($9M) in Owen’s contract that could make him one of the summer’s best bargains.
There is zero chance that Newcastle will let Owen go in the summer – and that Michael would even think of leaving Newcastle.
He has been at the club for two seasons yet played only ten games for the club – it will just not happen – and there are plenty of reasons why.
Here is a quote from the Independent today:
The Newcastle United striker Michael Owen will be the first target for Sir Alex Ferguson this summer with the new Premiership champions eager to take advantage of a clause in the player’s contract that will make him one of the summer’s best bargains. Owen should be available to leave St James’ Park for around £9m.
Should a deal be struck, there is understood to be no major objections from the man himself about joining the oldest rivals of his first club Liverpool who passed up the chance to re-sign him in 2005 when he left Real Madrid. The 27-year-old found his old club outbid then by Newcastle but the clause in his contract means that he will be able to leave the north-east for much less than the £17m paid for him two years ago.
To say this would not play well with the Newcastle fans is a huge understatement.
Here is a list of reasons why Owen leaving Newcastle makes no sense at all to the Newcastle club and presumably to Michael himself:
- Newcastle paid $17M to Real Madrid for Owen a short 21 months ago when they outbid Liverpool – why would we sell for $9M
- Michael is reportedly on a huge $110K per week at Newcastle – and he has been paid while injured for most of his time at Newcastle
- Owen has played a total of 12 games for Newcastle scoring 7 goals – hardly a return that has justified Newcastle’s huge outlay on him
- From what we know of Michael – ethics wise – it would be difficult for him to leave Newcastle after 12 games – for which he cost $17M and been paid close to $10M (pounds sterling) in wages
- Michael has not played enough at Newcastle to see if he can be successful in Geordie Land – and become a scoring legend like his old pal Alan Shearer – most supporters think he can do it
Let’s be clear that the horrific injuries Owen has sustained playing for Newcastle and England are not Owen’s fault at all – but nevertheless the injury situation has been horrendous for both club and player.
Let’s put this story to bed immediately – because it will not happen.
The Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd will almost certainly appoint Sam Allardyce next Monday as the new Newcastle manager.
With these kind of unfounded stories making the rounds Freddy needs to get the new manager in quickly – so we can put a stop to this nonsense.
Hopefully it is now very clear to all how we feel – let us know your opinions on this.
13 comments so far
Craig
May 9, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Comment #1Appaarently the clause is triggered if we haven’t gotten into Europe by the end of season 06/07. That would make sense considering he would have had two official seasons with club, with nobody predicting the two major injuries he has suffered. Either way, I doubt this will happen, I would hope the man has better morals than that.
Mike Lewis
May 9, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Comment #2You don’t seem to understand this clause in his contract. It says that if Newcastle should fail to qualify for Europe the club have no choice but to allow him to leave for the quoted price (apparently £9M, which is very different to $9M by the way). Of course, Owen himself still has the final say, and if he feels he owes the club and decides to stay he will do. I’m a big Newcastle fan myself and hope that he stays but i think you’re putting a rather optimistic spin on this story without having the facts.
Barry Bethel
May 9, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Comment #3I’m afraid your faith in Owen staying is pretty unsoundly based. Like most footballers, Micheal Owen’s number one priority is er…himself. He joined Newcastle as an escape route with a big payday rather than a desire to play at St.James’. Since leaving Liverpool 3 years ago he has played just 34 games and has seen his career continue a decline that was evident in his final season at Liverpool. Your best hope of him staying is that even at £9m, top clubs will realise that there are better options for fitter, more effective strikers than investing in a player whose main sporting interest is now of an equine nature.
Ed Harrison
May 9, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Comment #4Mike – agree completely.
But if Michael did trigger the clause he better not come back to St. James – because he would have shown himself to be very selfish – hope there’s still some loyalty with him after all the club has done for him.
Not the first time i’ve been accused of being too optimistic regarding Newcastle 😀
Ed Harrison
May 9, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Comment #5Barry – see above comment – but i’m still hoping he can be big hit at Newcastle.
Mats
May 9, 2007 at 2:07 PM
Comment #6Lets face it – Man Utd is THE CLUB as far as success goes ? up for CL cup and PL trophies every year… A player may get one chance in life to join them. See it from his side if he does take the decison to leave…After all, fotball is a job to most footballers these days… Not his fault that he got injured and is now back and attractive on the market…
Ed Harrison
May 9, 2007 at 2:37 PM
Comment #7We’ve paid him $9M in wages for 12 games played over two seasons – and if we sell him we lose $8M in transfer fees.
If he leaves – he shouldn’t bother to return to St James Park -ever.
But I don’t think he will leave.
Michael
May 9, 2007 at 8:32 PM
Comment #8I am a Newcastle fan a big fan. Michael will leave Newcastle if Manchester united come calling doubtless of that. He must not make the mistake of Shearer who may have been a better striker and perhaps more illustrious than ever had he gone to Manchester united. Instead what has loyalty got Shearer. Nothing to show for all those years at Newcastle. Not a single Medal barring the losers medals from the FA cup finals. For Owens Sake and For Newcastle’s sake we do not want a player who has no interest in playing for us. Owen and Rooney sounds like a good partnership. Just let Michael Go please we do not want to have to fear this every summer no do we? IF you are not a big Champions league challenging club then there is no such thing a player loyalty.
Ed Harrison
May 9, 2007 at 8:50 PM
Comment #9I’m sure ManU will come calling in the summer.
But I just cannot believe Michael would have the guile to leave.
No proof that he doesn’t like it at Newcastle – and with new manager a chance of real successin the future – well maybe .
If he does leave – you’re right – we don’t want him.
shaz
May 10, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Comment #10I think owen should leave, i want him back at Liverpool even though it is unlikely rafa would go for him.He deserves better than to play for Newcastle.Last two Newcastle games have been a amusing watch.Their defending is woeful,anything michael would achieve would be guaranteed to be undone at the other end with such comical defending!
Kein
May 11, 2007 at 7:16 AM
Comment #111. I think that Owen himself not commenting the situation to the media tells the story. When he has something positive to say, he is been quoted in every press..but the silence might mean he is either thinking about moving to ManU (or somewhere else) or he has already decided to do it.
2. Freddy Shepherd’s angry comments to the media must mean that he knows something that we don’t. Why would get pissed off at Owen if he wants to stay or hasn’t expressed any desire to leave. Or maybe Shepherd is a total moran with his comments (he has already proved that he is…).
I’m not sure how many big teams want him though..he is very injury prone player. I think he should show some loyalty considering all the investment we have put in him!
Shaz
May 11, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Comment #12I think it serves Newcastle right for going after a player that didn’t want to play for them.It was obvious to everyone.Newcastle ‘s bid stopped him returning to Liverpool, i think it is logical that he would want to play for a team that has a chance of winning something and Newcastle will never be able to offer him that.I would imagine his two year injury nighmare was quickly followed by a wake up call that told him he needed to save his career.Let’s face it,it can’t be at Newcastle!
Week in Review: Newcastle United are hurting, and it’s their own fault | SoccerLens
May 14, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Comment #13[…] Michael Owen leaving Newcastle – you’ve GOT to be kidding – he can’t leave yet, can he? Out of ‘honour’, he’ll stay at least one more year and stay injury-free, because another injury-wracked season could end his career. […]