"Brendan Rodgers said he didn't need me"- Liverpool ambassador Michael Owen explains reason behind past Manchester United transfer

Former Liverpool star Michael Owen talks about moving to Manchester United

Michael Owen has opened up about his heartfelt desire to rejoin Liverpool when he returned to England. However, when this dream proved impossible, he ultimately sought a move to Old Trafford, a decision that still stirs mixed emotions among football fans.

Owen first burst onto the football scene as a talented teenager with Liverpool, quickly establishing himself as a prolific goal scorer. During his tenure at the Merseyside club, he netted an impressive 158 goals in 297 appearances, earning a regular spot in the England squad and even winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. His exceptional performances led to a high-profile move to Real Madrid in 2004.

However, Owen’s time in Spain remained relatively short-lived, as he returned to England the following year after a tough season with Los Blancos.

Former Liverpool star Michael Owen talks about moving to Manchester United. — Michael Owen is now a pundit after retiring as a footballer. (Photo by PETER KOHALMI/AFP via Getty Images)

Now, he is the current International Ambassador for the Merseysiders and has been so since 2016. In a recent interview on the Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE YouTube channel, Owen candidly shared his desire to return to Liverpool before eventually joining Newcastle United and his subsequent journey to Old Trafford.

“When I finished at Newcastle it was again a case of can I get to Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers said he didn’t need me at the time. At that point you have just got to go to whoever is the best available. Once I got over that [feeling of] is everyone going to hate me and the pain of have I ruined everything etc. etc, it was a no-brainer [to join United]. I knew everyone, I played at England with them all, I knew Sir Alex and all the rest of it.”

No second Liverpool spell for Owen

Owen’s move to Newcastle stood by a sense of nostalgia and longing for his beloved Liverpool. He hoped to rejoin the club he considered his own. Yet, when in fact, Rafa Benitez indicated that Liverpool didn’t require his services at the time, Owen faced a difficult decision.

Ultimately, he made the decision to join Manchester United, a move that stirred strong emotions among football enthusiasts. Owen’s relationship with Liverpool had been an integral part of his career, and his journey to Old Trafford remained marked by mixed feelings and tough choices.

Despite the complexities of his decisions, Owen’s career remains an integral part of football history.

His journey, from Liverpool to Real Madrid and ultimately to Manchester United, is a testament to the dynamics and challenges of professional football, where loyalties and dreams can often collide with the realities of the sport.