Turncoat Owen at it again

So, Michael Owen is on the verge of sealing a shock switch to Old Trafford and as a Liverpool fan, I have to admit that I’m bitterly disappointed in him.

The potential move brings up this issue of player loyalty or rather the lack of it in today’s football world. In Italy, France and in lesser cases Spain, it’s fairly common for players of Owen’s stature to switch allegiances between the country’s top clubs. But in England, with the exception of serial-mover Nicolas Anelka, it’s a rare occasion.

Owen will become the first player since Paul Ince to play for both Manchester United and Liverpool and for both players the feat was done via a spell abroad sandwiched in between. Ince, who had an indifferent experience with Inter Milan, left Old Trafford on bad terms with Alex Ferguson and was all too willing to return to the Premier League with rivals Liverpool.

Having spent 8 seasons at Anfield, the club that nurtured his talent as a youngster, Owen first turned his back on Liverpool in the summer of 2004 when he forced a move to Real Madrid.

Rafael Benitez had barely sat down at his new desk at the club before his star striker came pushing for a move. The Spaniard was powerless to stop Owen leaving and the fans were left devastated at the departure.

Some were bitter, others wished him well and didn’t blame him for leaving a club whose future was up in the air. As it happens, Owen failed to light up the Bernabeu, missed out on Champions League glory and subsequently ended up at the doomed Newcastle United after just once season in Spain.

Now, with his contract at relegated Newcastle expired, Owen was expected to decide on offers from the likes of Hull and Stoke but late this week it emerged at Premier League champions Manchester United were shock contenders.

Owen is reportedly only a medical away from completing the remarkable turnaround, but it is likely to start a hate campaign led by Liverpool fans aggrieved at Owen’s lack of loyalty and respect for his former club.

Alas, I can see the logic in the move, it makes sense for both player and club, but even Liverpudlians would prefer to see him in an Everton shirt. Owen’s loyalty to his parent club has to be questioned. Look at Carlos Tevez, a model professional who is a great example to younger players in today’s game.

Tevez spent just two years at Man Utd and will no longer play for the club after rejecting a new deal after some shabby treatment. However, the Argentine immediately refuted interest from Liverpool saying he would not play for the club out of respect for Manchester United fans.

That was after two years, Owen spent eight years at Anfield, winning many cups while always being first choice striker, something which Tevez rarely was at United. Respect must go out to Tevez for his loyalty, but should Owen betray his former Liverpool fans for a second time, then he will permanently lose a lot of Anfield hearts.