United Take Owen Gamble

Michael Owen completed a shock move to Manchester United last week, signing a two-year deal with the reigning Premier League champions. The 29-year old England international was signed on a free transfer after his contract with Newcastle ended following the Magpies’ relegation to the Championship.

Owen had been linked with Everton, Aston Villa, Stoke, and Hull, but it was Sir Alex Ferguson who decided to swoop for the striker. Ferguson is a long-time admirer of Owen and had tried to sign him as a youngster, but upon advice from his father, Owen signed with Liverpool. Wearing the red of Merseyside, “Saint Michael” went on to score 158 goals in 297 matches.

He eventually decided to leave Anfield for Real Madrid, where he only played 40 matches, but still managed to get 14 goals. Newcastle leapt at the chance to sign the striker in 2005, but Owen’s career at St. James’ Park was underwhelming, having only managed 79 appearances in three years due to constant injury problems. He was eventually made captain of the club, but still couldn’t stay consistently fit, and his time at the club ended on a sour note after Newcastle was doomed to relegation on the last day of last season.

After his problematic spell of injuries, the signing of Owen is seen as a large risk. Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce was weary of signing him, saying “I just question the injury scenario. I need a striker that’s going to be available for 30 games next season. That’s not happened for Michael over the last four years.”

Sir Alex, however, was willing to take the chance. “Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level. Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish,” said the Scotsman.

Owen was also quick to quell fears of further injury problems. “I’d like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical. I’ve obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made out of it but I certainly don’t feel like I’m injury prone.”

It is reported that United have signed Owen on a pay-as-you-play contract, with the player taking a significant salary cut. The striker has fallen out of England manager Fabio Capello’s current plans, but a strong spell with United could convince the Italian to bring Owen back into the frame. With the World Cup in South Africa approaching, it appears that Owen is concerned more with his footballing future than his salary – that, in and of itself, is surely a refreshing thing to see in the world of football.

Owen becomes United’s second signing of the summer and is certainly one of their most shocking in recent years. The mutual disdain between United and Liverpool supporters will make Owen’s reception at Old Trafford somewhat questionable, and it will without doubt add more tension to the clashes between the two clubs.

Owen, however, is only looking ahead to his future with United. “I agreed without a moment’s thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands,” he said. “I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player, and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here. I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me, and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances.”

Source: BBC

Obertan Pens United Deal

The promising French winger has signed a four-year deal with Manchester United from Bordeaux, after being linked with Arsenal, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

Ferguson has a large void to fill after Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, but in Obertan he has a player with strong potential and impressive raw talent. Obertan was named the most valuable player at the Toulon youth tournament last month, and has featured in the Bordeaux first team since the age of 17.

“Gabriel is a player we have tracked for a few years now,” Ferguson said. “But because of his educational program our efforts to get him have been delayed. We are delighted to get him now as he is an exciting prospect.”

Obertan was delighted, but also surprised to be given the opportunity to join the Premier League champions. “I knew they had been following me for a few years but I did not think it was going to happen this season,” he said. “We had no longer been in too much contact until the England Under-21s game where I played well for France and scored a goal. That helped things along. We spoke again, and I ended up signing. He [Ferguson] has put me at ease. He said to me that he knows my pros and cons. It’s my potential that interests him. He has confidence in me. It is flattering and surprising. But I know I still have a lot of work to do to get to that [Ronaldo's] level.”

Obertan is United’s third arrival of the summer after the club signed winger Antonio Valencia and striker Michael Owen.

Source: ESPN

Benitez Slams ‘Crazy’ Transfers

The Liverpool manager has launched an attack on today’s highly competitive transfer market. The summer has seen a number of high-profile moves, and the world transfer record has already been broken twice. Heavy spenders Manchester City and Real Madrid have been making a majority of the noise since the end of the football season, and Benitez feels that the market has become too extreme. “The market is now crazy. It is all money, money, money now,” he said.

Long-time Liverpool target Gareth Barry recently chose to move to Eastlands, as well as Roque Santa Cruz, Jo, Robinho, and Craig Bellamy. Chelsea raised the spending bar in 2003 after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovic took over the club, but Manchester City’s takeover by the incredibly wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group last year meant Abramovic no longer had the Premier League’s deepest pockets.

Real Madrid, however, have by far put forth the largest financial investment, spending close to $300 million on the transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Raul Albiol. That figure does not even take into consideration the exorbant wages that are rumored to have been offered to Madrid’s newest arrivals.

Many are critical of the transfer policies of City, Madrid, and Chelsea, arguing that the lofty fees are raising the prices of all players. Benitez believes that this new influx of spending has made recruiting players much more difficult. “Things have changed. You have to adapt to a situation. Manchester City and big clubs in Europe are spending big money, so the market has changed and we have to work harder.”

Source: BBC

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