Eh, Michael Owen has finally spilled the tea! The former England striker has confessed that joining Newcastle United was the biggest mistake of his football career.
From Red Devils to Magpies: A Costly Switch
After winning the Premier League with Manchester United, Owen revealed in his 2019 book 'Reboot' that he never wanted to move to the North East in the first place. The man was still dreaming about a Liverpool reunion! You see, Owen had his heart set on returning to Anfield, where he'd become a legend with his lightning pace and clinical finishing. But when that deal fell through, Newcastle swooped in with their big offer.
Wamma, he was earning a whopping £120,000-a-week, but the injuries kept coming and the relationship with Newcastle fans went sour faster than milk in the sun. About 20,000 fans showed up for his unveiling, but the party didn't last long. The Geordie faithful expected fireworks, but what they got was more like damp squibs.
The Price of Regret
Owen says he should have trusted his gut feeling and stayed away from Newcastle. The man is cooking with honesty! His time on Tyneside was plagued by fitness issues - he barely managed to complete a full season, playing just 79 games in four years. The injuries that had followed him throughout his career seemed to multiply like rabbits in that unforgiving North East climate.
But hey, at least he got that Premier League medal with United, right? That's the silver lining in this cloud of regret. Owen's honesty is refreshing in a world where many players would rather bury their mistakes. He admits he was seduced by the money and the chance to be a marquee signing, but sometimes following the cash leads you down a bumpy road.
Moral of the story: sometimes the biggest paycheck isn't worth the headache. In Owen's case, following his heart back to Liverpool might have given us more of those magical moments we remember him for, rather than the what-ifs that haunt St. James' Park.
Source: Mirror
