Owen linked with Madrid
Michael Owen career profile
Liverpool striker Michael Owen is considering a move to Real Madrid after contract talks with the Reds broke down, according to newspaper reports.
Real are said to be willing to pay £10m and throw in Fernando Morientes or Samuel Eto'o in a deal worth £25m.
Owen's contract at Liverpool runs out at the end of this season, and he would be able to leave on a free transfer.
Liverpool may avoid using Owen in their Champions League game against Graz AK to avoid him being cup tied in Europe.
The 24-year-old England forward had said he was close to signing a new contract, but reports say the two parties have been unable to come to an agreement.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez earlier refused to be drawn on rumours that Owen's future depends on whether he plays against Graz AK.
Owen, who has also been linked with Barcelona, has been holding talks over a two-year contract extension.
If he does not it is because another player is considered better, nothing more than that
Reds boss Rafael Benitez
Benitez said: "I have nothing to say about his contract. Michael has travelled and I can use him if I want."
If Owen was to play against Graz it would lower his value in the transfer market since any interested clubs would not be able to play him in Europe this season.
Benitez added: "For me it is important for this match that I do not talk about individual players.
"My job is to pick the best team for this big match which is very, very important to us.
"I will decide during the night my team and formation. All the 19 players here can play.
"I can pick him and if he plays it is because he is the right player for the game. If he does not it is because another player is considered better, nothing more than that.
"I do not name my teams until the day of the game and this team will not be named until 30 minutes before the game."
Owen had previously hinted that the arrival of new manager Rafael Benitez has swayed his decision to stay at Anfield.
Last week he implied he was on the brink of signing a new deal but he has been cagey in recent days, leading to speculation that his talks with the club have hit a snag.
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Owen to Madrid ?
- Thread starter Savo
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Rochester Rhino
Manager
ESPN soccernet has a similar article except a link with barca instead of real.
Lonestarr022
Starting XI
Hey Rafa wanan spite the ownership??
Start Owen in the CL game so hes cup tied, then sub him off after one minute!!!!!!!
Start Owen in the CL game so hes cup tied, then sub him off after one minute!!!!!!!
Rochester Rhino
Manager
Here's the story from soccernet.
after reading it a second time it does mention real which i didn't see before when i skimmed it.
Michael Owen's whole Liverpool future will depend on whether he plays in the club's Champions League crunch qualifier in Graz.
It is believed that Liverpool are in the middle of a delicate piece of brinkmanship over the England striker's new contract.
Barcelona are believed to be interested in Owen but are very much aware that if he plays against the Austrian double winners Graz AK his transfer valuation will slump because he will be cup-tied in all UEFA tournaments this season.
Owen has been cagey in recent days about his new contract after 15 months of negotiation.
Last week he implied he was on the brink of signing a new three-year contact that would have given manager Rafael Benitez a major boost as he approached the new Premiership season.
But those talks appear to have hit a snag with the clear implication that Owen is being pressured into signing before the Champions League starts, and that is something his advisors will not allow to happen, with initially Barcelona and possibly also Real Madrid showing interest.
And in Benitez's media conference tonight, he pointedly refused to dispel those fears when given several opportunities to confirm that Owen would be in the starting line-up against Graz.
Benitez said: 'Michael is on my list and he can play, I never name my team but he can play, he is listed.
'It is an important match and we will see then, but I do not want to talk about one player.'
Throughout the day there had been rumours of a problem over the contract negotiations and it had even been suggested that Owen was unwilling to make himself available because of the delicate position he found himself in.
Milan Baros has already been primed to play alongside Djibril Cisse up front for Liverpool in a critical game they dare not lose, with around £13million riding on the result.
The other argument is that Liverpool may also not want to have their young striker cup-tied if his contract negotiations break down completely, and they will be left looking for a deal before the transfer deadline arrives on August 31.
If he plays and then rejects the contract, Liverpool could lose him for nothing next summer with under one year of his contract still to run.
The could also find his valuation slashed either in this transfer window, or even worse, come January.
A player who may be worth £20million could end up being sold for a fraction of that.
But Benitez declined to explain the situation, and added: 'I cannot talk about the future. I have 19 players here in Austria and Michael is on that list.
'I can pick him and if he plays it is because he is the right player for the game. If he does not it is because another player is considered better, nothing more than that.
'I do not name my teams until the day of the game and this team will not be named until 30 minutes before the game.
'I have nothing to say about his contract, I will decide what is my team. He is here with us and can play.'
The new coach's attitude will have done nothing to dispel fears amongst Liverpool fans that all is not well in the club's relationship with one of the best strikers in Europe.
The Spanish coach, who has seen 10 players leave this summer either on loan or free deals, was also in the process of selling Danny Murphy to Tottenham.
The England midfielder, Owen's best pal in the squad and a friend since childhood, was stunned to be told he had no future at the club by Benitez at the weekend.
Benitez said: 'For me it is important for this match that I do not talk about individual players.
'Michael has travelled and I can use him if I want. My job is to pick the best team for this big match which is very, very important to us.
'I will decide during the night my team and formation. All the 19 players here can play.
'I have nothing to say about the contract, I am only talking about whether he plays or does not play, the rest is the future.'
after reading it a second time it does mention real which i didn't see before when i skimmed it.
Michael Owen's whole Liverpool future will depend on whether he plays in the club's Champions League crunch qualifier in Graz.
It is believed that Liverpool are in the middle of a delicate piece of brinkmanship over the England striker's new contract.
Barcelona are believed to be interested in Owen but are very much aware that if he plays against the Austrian double winners Graz AK his transfer valuation will slump because he will be cup-tied in all UEFA tournaments this season.
Owen has been cagey in recent days about his new contract after 15 months of negotiation.
Last week he implied he was on the brink of signing a new three-year contact that would have given manager Rafael Benitez a major boost as he approached the new Premiership season.
But those talks appear to have hit a snag with the clear implication that Owen is being pressured into signing before the Champions League starts, and that is something his advisors will not allow to happen, with initially Barcelona and possibly also Real Madrid showing interest.
And in Benitez's media conference tonight, he pointedly refused to dispel those fears when given several opportunities to confirm that Owen would be in the starting line-up against Graz.
Benitez said: 'Michael is on my list and he can play, I never name my team but he can play, he is listed.
'It is an important match and we will see then, but I do not want to talk about one player.'
Throughout the day there had been rumours of a problem over the contract negotiations and it had even been suggested that Owen was unwilling to make himself available because of the delicate position he found himself in.
Milan Baros has already been primed to play alongside Djibril Cisse up front for Liverpool in a critical game they dare not lose, with around £13million riding on the result.
The other argument is that Liverpool may also not want to have their young striker cup-tied if his contract negotiations break down completely, and they will be left looking for a deal before the transfer deadline arrives on August 31.
If he plays and then rejects the contract, Liverpool could lose him for nothing next summer with under one year of his contract still to run.
The could also find his valuation slashed either in this transfer window, or even worse, come January.
A player who may be worth £20million could end up being sold for a fraction of that.
But Benitez declined to explain the situation, and added: 'I cannot talk about the future. I have 19 players here in Austria and Michael is on that list.
'I can pick him and if he plays it is because he is the right player for the game. If he does not it is because another player is considered better, nothing more than that.
'I do not name my teams until the day of the game and this team will not be named until 30 minutes before the game.
'I have nothing to say about his contract, I will decide what is my team. He is here with us and can play.'
The new coach's attitude will have done nothing to dispel fears amongst Liverpool fans that all is not well in the club's relationship with one of the best strikers in Europe.
The Spanish coach, who has seen 10 players leave this summer either on loan or free deals, was also in the process of selling Danny Murphy to Tottenham.
The England midfielder, Owen's best pal in the squad and a friend since childhood, was stunned to be told he had no future at the club by Benitez at the weekend.
Benitez said: 'For me it is important for this match that I do not talk about individual players.
'Michael has travelled and I can use him if I want. My job is to pick the best team for this big match which is very, very important to us.
'I will decide during the night my team and formation. All the 19 players here can play.
'I have nothing to say about the contract, I am only talking about whether he plays or does not play, the rest is the future.'
i bet that if they get rooney or owen they will not win anything this year. Rochester Rhino
Manager
i think real doesn't need another striker right now they have 3 excellent ones already, they have more important problems to solve for CB and DM.
It's not that he looks old, but he's been in the game for so long...mega montana
Starting XI
no english players for madrid
Rochester Rhino
Manager
or the yankees
Rochester Rhino
Manager
every sport i think has a team that are big spenders... doesn't always mean success..look at the Detroit Red Wings in Hockey for example
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Rochester Rhino
Manager
the rangers had a huge payroll and did absolutely terrible.
WilliamFAlmeida
Starting XI
Owen will never be in Madrid....Madrid dont want him, I dont want him in Madrid, and MADRID HAVE BETTER THINGS THEY SHOULD BE WORKING ON!!!!!!!!!
ala VIEIRA!!
ala VIEIRA!!
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