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Sports News of Tuesday, 5 May 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Owen reveals what Jamie Carragher said that made him leave Liverpool for Real Madrid

Michael Owen Michael Owen

Ex-England international, Micheal Owen, has revealed what Jamie Carragher said to him that made him ditch Liverpool for Real Madrid.

He revealed that Carragher knew about the contact from Madrid and tried to persuade him against leaving Anfield because he would not have regular playing time.

Owen joined Real Madrid in mid-2004 for £8 million, scoring 13 goals in La Liga for the Los Blancos.

“I was in America. Jamie Carragher and I were sharing the same room,” Owen told talkSPORT.

“We were on a pre-season tour, and manager, Rafa Benitez, had just taken over at Liverpool.

“My agent called me on the phone and said, ‘Madrid want to buy you.’

“I just remember putting the phone down after a few minutes discussing it, and Carragher looked at me and said, ‘don’t do it.’

“And I said to him, ‘why not?’ and he said I would not play there.

“That actually made me sign for Real Madrid, thinking I am going to prove Carragher wrong.

“I always say to myself that it was an excellent problem. How could you complain about Real Madrid being interested in you?”

Although he joined the Los Blancos to prove Carragher wrong, he was frequently used as a substitute and later returned to England the following season where he joined Newcastle United for £16.8 million.

Owen later dealt Liverpool a further blow after signing for bitter rivals Manchester United in 2009, scoring five goals in 31 apps, winning his only PL trophy with Sir Alex Ferguson's side in 2011.