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Transfers - Michael Owen: The full saga

Eurosport - Mon, 29 Jun 18:16:00 2009

Follow the chain of events that saw Michael Owen linked to a host of clubs after he left Newcastle following their relegation.

2008-2009 Newcastle United Michael Owen - 0

December 14, 2008 - Michael Owen denies that he has rejected a new contract as reports link him to Wigan. Owen: "None of us have been offered a contract so there are no bad guys here, I've not refused anything."

December 15, 2008 - Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear says he will offer Owen a new deal: "I will fight like hell to keep him. I don't see any point taking money for Michael Owen. I would rather have him in my team scoring goals than any amount of cash."

December 22, 2008 - Owen admits that he will not make a decision about his future until the end of the season: "I am committed to the club until at least the end of this season, and I have informed them I do not want to make a decision about my future until that time."

January 2, 2009 - Internazionale boss Jose Mourinho denies that Owen will join the club in the January transfer window. Mourinho: "I never thought of him. Over the last year he has had lots of major injuries and now he is not the Owen we knew."

January 28, 2009 - Martin O'Neill admits that he could bring Owen to Aston Villa. O'Neill: "We would see. Like everything else, football is evolving all the time. That's not to say Michael Owen is not a terrific footballer. What happens in the future, I don't know."

May 15, 2009 - Reports suggest that Michael Owen will retire from football at the end of the season. Owen: "Any suggestion or unfounded speculation that I have any intention of quitting football is totally untrue and wrong."

May 24, 2009 - Newcastle United lose 1-0 to Aston Villa, condemning them to relegation to the Championship. Owen's contract expires.

May 25, 2009 - Villa defender Curtis Davies urges the club to sign Owen. Davies: "I'd love to see him here at Villa if that was an opportunity, although at the same time there will be other clubs sniffing around him. People will say about his wages but, if you are getting him on a free transfer, it offsets that."

June 2, 2009 - Reports suggest Everton manager David Moyes is keen to sign Owen, with a £50,000 a week contract being prepared.

June 8, 2009 - Villa are reported to be interested in making Owen their highest-paid player with a £50,000 weekly wage.

June 9, 2009 - Villa dismiss the above reports without discounting a move for Owen

June 14, 2009 - Wasserman Media Group send a 34-page dossier to clubs outlining Michael Owen's attributes, achievements, playing and fitness record and requirements.

June 17, 2009 - Wigan chief Dave Whelan denies making a bid for Owen, saying his wages are too high while questioning his motivation and injury record.

June 22, 2009 - Hull City boss Phil Brown admits he is interested in taking Owen to the KC Stadium.

June 22, 2009 - Owen says: "I'm still a Newcastle United player but only for a matter of weeks."

June 24, 2009 - Stoke boss Tony Pulis admits he would be "interested in throwing my hat into the ring if it was ever viable". He adds: "He would be a great signing for this football club and he can rest assured our fans would treat him as one of their own."

June 25, 2009 - Stoke chairman Peter Coates says he would be interested in signing Owen but is unsure about his wages and injury record.

June 26, 2009 - Owen is linked with a move to Turkey, with Galatasaray boss Frank Rijkaard reportedly keen on reuniting him with former Liverpool team-mate Harry Kewell.

June 29, 2009 - Olympiacos reportedly enter the bidding for Owen, with a £60,000-a-week offer hugely out-gunning Hull and Stoke's spending power.

Eurosport

Comment 57 - 76 of 96

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  1. finally a good comment! debbie!

    From Nath, on Tue 30 Jun 7:00AM

  2. Nice to the see the toon badge where it belongs....IN­ THE CHAMPIONSHIP section

    From Debbie, on Tue 30 Jun 6:12AM

  3. Arda Turan - Harry Kewell - Milan Baros and Michael­ Owen . it'll be very fantastic

    From Murat, on Tue 30 Jun 2:13AM

  4. Number 71, "his­ scoring rate IS STILL 0ne goal in­ every two games". The trouble is, he only plays­ two games per season!

    From adamwright4by, on Tue 30 Jun 1:05AM

  5. come to galatasaray pls :)

    From dufresne, on Tue 30 Jun 1:04AM

  6. Owen definitely deserves premiership football,his­ scoring rate IS STILL 0ne goal in every two games.­ Newcastle however, are doomed to always be third rate.­ We wuz a big club yesterday, but boy you want to see us­ now. What player in their right mind (and sober)would­ want to play for Newcastle? Given that Given has gone,­ nothing in the new division will be a Given. That's­ Given it to you straight. Hands up, who would like big­ Sam back; after all he kept Blackburn up didn't he?­ But you lot knew better (or thought you did) Why­ aren't they falling over themselves to buy the­ club? COULD IT BE THE FANS?

    From JOHN B, on Tue 30 Jun 12:54AM

  7. Imagine the headline on the front page though,­ 'Owen sues Newcastle for loss of earnings' how­ funny is that

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 29 Jun 11:27PM

  8. john connolly....would not like to see him get injured!­ the slippery t(wat) would probably sue us for loss of­ earnings!!!

    From newcastleian1, on Mon 29 Jun 10:43PM

  9. newcastleian1, wouldn't it be good though if he­ broke his metertarsal and was out for over a season and­ nobody would sign him. Nasty I know but I doubt he­ would get any sympathy, not off me anyway.

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 29 Jun 10:33PM

  10. john connolly...saying we are paying him,i hope the­ gimp is in pre-season training,sweating his nuts­ off,but knowing the little chancer will probably feign­ an injury, again!!!

    From newcastleian1, on Mon 29 Jun 10:21PM

  11. newcastleian1, your right mate, it's the best job­ in the world if your c ra p

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 29 Jun 10:10PM

  12. i am sure it is if he does not sign for a club before­ tuesday 30th june they have to pay him all of july then­ can f..k him off on the 1st of august?? i think it goes­ for lard arse viduka as well.

    From newcastleian1, on Mon 29 Jun 9:04PM

  13. safcsmb, spot on but I'm not sure it's in his­ contract, I think it's an FA rule. Most players who­ run their contract down start looking for a new club in­ advance and are pretty well sorted by the time it runs­ out. Trouble here is Owen gets more money than most­ clubs pay so I think as you say, he wont go anywhere­ until he's had the last drop, unless someone offers­ him a mad amount to go now.

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 29 Jun 7:57PM

  14. Keep up to date with the press ... Owen hasn't­ quite left NUFC yet. If he fails to sign for a new­ club before 1st August 2009 the club must pay him an­ extra months salary (it was in his contract). So if­ the little money grabbing monkey can pick up 120 grand­ a week for doing nothing (costing NUFC over 500 grand­ for the month) as opposed to picking up 50 grand a week­ and having to train all through July, don't be­ surprised if he isn't finally off your books until­ early August! The guy is a total disgrace to football­ and epitimises the money-grabbing squalor of English­ football in the 21st Century where too many players­ take, take, take, don't always put the effort in­ and cry of with a feigned injury when it suits them.

    From safcalsftm, on Mon 29 Jun 7:42PM

  15. liverpool improved 10 fold when owen left, so maybe so­ should newcastle.

    From okman1, on Mon 29 Jun 7:12PM

  16. Come to Manchester United

    From die ronaldo die, on Mon 29 Jun 7:07PM

  17. Owen says.I`m still a newcastle player but only for­ another few weeks,Greedy lil runt will wait till end of­ july be4 he signs for another club whilst taken more­ money from newcastle

    From Scot, on Mon 29 Jun 6:46PM

  18. The greedy sponging little bum wont be going anywhere­ while we are paying him £100,000 a week. The FA say we­ have to pay the robbing T**t for July if he can't­ find a new club so I guess he'll be sticking around­ to pick up his free money. No other industry on the­ planet would allow this to happen, unbelievable.

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 29 Jun 6:31PM

  19. wellcome to Turkey wellcome to Galatasaray OWEN we love­ you

    From sgorguner, on Mon 29 Jun 4:14PM

  20. Welcome to Galatasaray Owen!!!

    From s.olmez, on Mon 29 Jun 2:43PM
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