Liverpool FC Forum

I would make the same choice again
By Michael Owen
The striker is glad he moved to Spain despite his uncertain future

WHEN I SIGNED MY contract at Real Madrid last summer, I expected to be back in the Premiership in 2008 after completing my four years, knowing that I would only be 28 and hopefully with a number of good seasons ahead of me. As far as new signings at the Bernabéu are concerned, the move for Robinho had been spoken about for several months, although the arrival of Júlio Baptista was unexpected. Indeed, it was his signing that put in motion the chain of events reported by the media last week.
Real Madrid phoned my advisers last Sunday afternoon and made the point that the arrival of Robinho and Baptista made no difference to me — they wanted me to stay. However, they do have five strikers at the club and it is obvious that not everyone can play in every game.



Knowing the importance of World Cup finals year, they said that if there was a possible transfer that suited everyone, I had their permission to explore it, but there was no pressure to make any decision that did not suit me. This information was conveyed to a small group of clubs and we have until August 31 to see if anything happens.

Mentally, I am preparing for another season with Real and if I do find myself on the bench at the start of the season, I will do everything possible to force my way into the starting XI and I know I will be given a fair chance to do this. Those who know me are aware that I have a competitive edge and this is one challenge I am determined to win.

Regardless of what happens this summer, I would like to return to the Premiership one day. Already I feel that my time abroad has matured me and I believe that when I do return, it will be as a better player.

Inevitably, the World Cup is on my mind. I don’t want to make assumptions because England have not yet qualified, but if we do, we will have a great chance to make an impact. If we qualify, I know that the management team under Sven-Göran Eriksson will prepare us superbly for the tournament — his attention to detail is meticulous. I read last week that he tried to buy me a few years ago when he was the coach at Lazio. I heard a rumour at the time that something was going on, but I never did hear anything official.

The transfer window will close in three weeks’ time and then I will know where I will be playing my football next season. I look back on the past year with a lot of good memories. People ask me if I was disappointed that Liverpool won the European Cup while Real Madrid won nothing. I was delighted for Liverpool — especially for the fans and my many friends there. But if I had to make the decision again, I would still have chosen Real. It is an experience that has developed me as a player and as a person. I have enjoyed learning from new training regimes and watching some of the world’s best players at close quarters.

I’ve had my challenges along the way — yet with three different coaches, I started on the bench and eventually ended up in the team, so I must have been doing something right. Statistically, last season was successful — 16 goals in 26 starts. I’m told that it worked out as a goal every 146 minutes with 35 per cent of my scoring chances ending in the net.

I would like to have started more games, although I tried hard never to show my true feelings because, in the modern game, you have to understand the importance of a strong squad.

For now, I am assuming that I will be starting next season with Real — but if not, I want to be ready for any challenge that lies ahead. I am in Austria enjoying a punishing pre-season fitness program