Michael Owen awkwardly insisted that Brendan Rodgers turned down the opportunity to sign him for Liverpool in 2009 – despite the Northern Irishman not being appointed by the Reds for another three years. Recounting the story in which the striker claims he tried to return to Liverpool after leaving Newcastle, Owen also misremembered the name of forward David N’Gog, who he called Robert.
Owen claims that he tried to rejoin Liverpool after leaving Newcastle as a free agent. He had been unable to help the Magpies avoid relegation and was subsequently made a free agent.
He has always maintained that his priority was to rejoin Liverpool. However, Owen misremembered several key parts of the story – including the identity of the Reds manager who vetoed the transfer.
The 43-year-old said it was Rodgers who turned down the move, even though the now-Celtic boss was in charge of Reading at the time. Rodgers did not join Liverpool for another three years and it was in fact Rafael Benitez who was manager. Liverpool went through a further two bosses – Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish – before Rodgers was appointed in 2012.
He also claims that during a phone conversation with Jamie Carragher, he was told that Liverpool were about to sign N’Gog – who Owen incorrectly calls Robert. But the French forward had been signed 12 months prior.
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Speaking on Up Front With Simon Jordan, Owen said: “When I was out of contract at Newcastle, I was on a bosman. I phoned Carra, I asked him to speak to Brendan and see if he fancies me. He said, ‘No, we’re just about to sign Robert N’Gog’. They basically didn’t need me, the timing was wrong. There was Suarez and Torres and blah, blah, blah.
“Liverpool ain’t gonna wait for me. I’ve got no resentment whatsoever. But I don’t expect resentment either way because my first port of call was to go back to the club…”
Asked why he did not return to Liverpool a year after joining Newcastle in 2006, Owen added: “Because I did my knee. So at every opportunity, there was just never the opportunity [to return to Liverpool].
“My first port of call was to go back to Liverpool. After that, when Liverpool say no, what do you want me to do? What are my options? And I’ll tell you what my options were – Hull City, Everton and Manchester United.
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“They were the three teams that came in, who were in the Premier League. I’d had my stint away [at Real Madrid in Spain], I didn’t want to go anywhere else. In the Premier League, they were the three teams.
“With all due respect, Hull were in the relegation scrap. I didn’t really want to live away again, playing in a relegation scrap. I was still a decent player. And then I’m thinking, ‘Everton?! I’m going to get absolutely…’
“I was prepared to go to Everton and I flew to America to play golf with David Moyes. My thought was that I was a boyhood Everton fan but I’m now going to be hated [by Liverpool fans].”
Owen ultimately joined United, facing the wrath of Liverpool fans regardless of turning down Everton. He scored 17 goals in 52 appearances for the Red Devils.
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