Owen in goals pledge

Stuart Mathieson

July 04, 2009

Michael Owen

MICHAEL Owen has vowed to repay the debt he owes Sir Alex Ferguson with a goal bonanza.

A shock whirlwind transfer took just 48 hours from start to finish and sees the 29-year-old striker land a two-year Old Trafford deal.

Owen's Newcastle contract expired on Tuesday and within hours of becoming a free agent the United boss swooped.

"I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning when he told me that he wanted to sign me.

"I agreed without a moment's thought," said Owen - the Reds' second summer capture after Antonio Valencia's £16m arrival from Wigan.

With no fee involved Owen has agreed a deal worth around £75,000-a-week. However, as he has been plagued by injuries it is likely United have negotiated a pay-as-you-play bonus on top of his salary.

Opportunity

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands," the one-time Liverpool and Real Madrid hitman added.

"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 missed pre- season last year and am pleased that I will be starting at Carrington from day one.

"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."

Fergie's surprise buy after losing out on Lyon's Karim Benzema to Madrid comes with a scoring pedigree of 157 league goals in 322 appearances and an international return of 40 goals in 89 games, a strike-rate which wooed the United boss.

"Michael is a world-class forward with a proven scoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question," said Sir Alex. "Coming to United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

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reddevildaz,blackpool (04/07/2009 at 10:14)

today there are rumour's on the internet that this is united's transfer bussiness done for the summer if so this is the worse summer for year's if true of course.

The unpalatable truth, Manchester (04/07/2009 at 10:27)

I wonder what the comments would be like on here if City had been forced to sell their best player to a rival,let another walk away to join us then replace them with a 1 goal in 10 winger from Wigan and a crocked free transfer....

Keep it up,lads.Best pre-season for comedy in ages.
Hilarious.

fowler, wythenshawe (04/07/2009 at 10:34)

well done united, you are really pulling up trees now lol, city meanwhile are just plugging along with little tevez,etoo,terry,barry,rsc,lescott, you know money talks grego peel hall blue

A Manc and blue (04/07/2009 at 10:49)

Owen will achieve a one in four ratio. There aint no getting away from that. Its called in for one week out for three

KiwiBluemooner, New Zealand (04/07/2009 at 10:52)

Can anyone else see the beautiful irony in the fact that Utd's main summer business is in 'buying' a guy called 'owen'. No wonder only frees are in the offing when you're 'owing' 600m squid.

Fredrik, Sweden (04/07/2009 at 10:53)

He has lost his electric pace, but he can still find the back of the net. 30 goals in 65 starts for Newcastle is very impressive.

He will definately outscore Tevez, that's for sure. He might be the best finsiher in the PL behind Torres and he will complement Rooney's pace and power and Berba's touch and vision in a very productive manner.

danny, WILMSLOW (04/07/2009 at 10:56)

Owen is an out and out Striker a goal machine but no workhorse he was free Santa Crock cost 18 million.
What I am concerned about is why Fergie was left on the blocks,and hope its football and not Horses the reason he signed Owen
The other thing is Tevez has said Fergie lied to him and we all know what he said about Madrid so can we trust him any longer, we have lost some top players bcause of his own ego.
One thing for sure Horses anf Golf will get him in on Fergies inner circle.
We need a player Like Ribery in midfield in reality United have enough money to even buy Gerrard but will they just sit on their fat purse or wil he go for another keeper.

Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester (04/07/2009 at 10:57)

It is quite funny how ex -professionals ( you know the type, the ones who played at the highest level) say that Owen is a great buy and yet the City fans ( you know the ones, fat beer bellied slobs, no nothing clowns from Offerton/Marple/Reddish) say he is finished and are laughing their heads off.
Very strange how the Stockport Dwellers know more than ex-professionals.
Let's see who is laughing by Christmas when Hughes is sacked !
PS. As I have said on many occasions, utd do not rely on help, we make our own money not money handed to us on a plate or a ground given to us by the Council. Very impressive (not) and you've still won nowt !

mamucium fc (04/07/2009 at 11:03)

Let me see...Ronaldo and tevez...or Valenzia and owen...erm let me think that it a hard one...YOU COULD NOT MAKE THIS UP. The glazers are putting £80 mill towards the £700 mill DEBT.

Cantona's Collar, West Lancs (04/07/2009 at 11:07)

Michael's a MANC !

What a snip - just hope he can keep injury free, get his form back. Look forward to him putting the ball in both the "BITTERS" & "SCOUSERS" nets next season !!

tooth&claw, manchester (04/07/2009 at 11:08)

Unpalatable Truth, so you city fans must expect to finish above us next May and progress further in the cups. If you don't (and you know that you won't) who are you going to blame? Despite your billions and your boasting, you'll still be happy to get into the Europa Cup on merit, whereas we'll be disappointed if we don't win four titles in a row and reach three Champions League finals in a row. There's still a gulf between us in size, ambition, style and class. You'll be £2bn in debt and be on your 5th manager since Sven before you even start to make an impact.

rck168, Camberley (04/07/2009 at 11:10)

There is nothing to loose, nor gamble because there is no transfer fee and also the play-pay terms. The worst scenario may be that he will play the Ole Super-sub role and score vital goals. It is also obvious that he is now playing for his self redeem and prestidge and as he said, he will surely repay Sir Alex for the trust and faith.
Meanwhile, we all should stop blaming Sir Alex for not signing Benzarma or Ripley. Those 2 players had made it very clear that they only want to move to RM, so how can we sign him ? and even if we do sign him now, what then when they insist to leave for RM just like CR ?
We must have faith in Sir Alex, even if we cant sign any more big names, let's stick to what we have with the promising young stars, we can at least rule the PL, Carling and FA cups.

John- still Sheikhin' all over (04/07/2009 at 11:17)

This is the best summer we have had for years, with both sets of fans having a great time with each other, on here, in the local pubs and work.
the atmosphere is electric. it's a shame that most of the reds will not enjoy nor understand our local banter.

thank you MEN for allowing us blues on-mass to post to the red side,
it's called banter, and let's keep giving it to each other.

i am off top the bookies today to place a bet that City finish above united during the next 2 seasons.

oh, and if Owen scores an hat-trick against Liverpool, that will make me smile, big time ;-)

mancitypj, Denton (04/07/2009 at 11:17)

Please stay fit Michael, cos we need you to score us some goals
Out = Ronaldo and Tevez.
In = Valencia and Owen.
Please sign us some decent players Fergie cos I'm scared that City are going to overtake us!!!!
I'm lovin' it, just lovin' it! Come on you rags; reply to this comment and tell us how much you've won!

Rilo, New Zealand (04/07/2009 at 11:20)

The unpalatable truth - keep it up mate , the more blues have a go at Valencia and Owen , the more gauranteed it is they are going 2 have brilliant seasons , you blues just have this knack of getting everything totally wrong , but still year in year out you`re there , never learn to shut up , at least til you win something anyway , the unpalatable truth is its 33 years without a trophy , what a joke . Ps , Is that the same Kaka and Ronaldo who just signed for Madrid that you lot were nailed on to buy a few months ago or different ones ? and whats happening with Gerrard , Fabregas , Torres . .. . HILARIOUS !

Rilo

jepetto, Ashton under Lyne (04/07/2009 at 11:20)

11.02 Karim Benzema has admitted he rejected a move to Manchester United in order to join Real Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson is known to be an admirer of the Frenchman and was strongly linked with the Lyon hit-man prior to signing Michael Owen.

Is this another snub!!!!! You can't even afford to get a striker on a contract instead you get Pay as you Go-Owen out the top four.

Andy Cooper (04/07/2009 at 11:28)

Saw Owen interviewed last night and he looked like a cat that had just swallowed a whole batch of canaries. I doubt if he can quite believe his luck and neither can I frankly. If this is our only signing this summer on top of Valencia then Fergie is taking a major gamble with his legacy and reputation. The proof of the pudding will only come once next season begins but the omens do not look good, frankly. I appreciate that Ronaldo was always going to leave and I will be shedding no tears over the overpriced Tevez going, but if a crocked Newcastle offcut is the best we can do then we really do seem to have reached the end of a golden era. Hope that Fergie proves me wrong as he has done in the past, but at this stage I just don't see that as a realistic prospect. We still need a top-flight striker and if Hargreaves is going to be on the fringes we also need a defensive midfielder to get into opponents' faces and allow Carrick and Anderson time to play. Next season may be a bit more interesting than anyone could reasonably have expected it to be!

Tomas, Aarhus, Denmark (04/07/2009 at 11:39)

@ The unpalatable truth, Manchester
You're right, but only difference is that we're a big club already with loads of trophies and they're aspiring.

citizen kris, chorley (04/07/2009 at 11:48)

the headline should read..."owen in games pledge"
on another note i hear united are going to have talks about signing sol campbell.

Rob Lawrence (04/07/2009 at 11:56)

The unpalatable truth, you hit the nail right on the head - we are not your little club, we actually have won quite a few trophies lately and are still one of the biggest clubs in the world. Think of us as a well evolved species, we don't need wholesale changes to be an efficient winning team, whereas your small wannabe club has to make wholesale revolutions - and you still might not win anything! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Gilly, Belgium (04/07/2009 at 12:07)

Come on SAF , get buying who and for where we need repair !

Kris-Kross, Ashton Under Lyne (04/07/2009 at 12:11)

Welcome to Manchester United Michael!

So may City fans on the United section I am beginning to think that they are United fans in disguise after all!

Infijar Ken, Angola (04/07/2009 at 12:24)

Don't worry, you are still buying some children for your academy. You never know United might be boasting winning the FA Youth Cup next season, because if you are right the seniors are not going to win anything this coming season.

Just when City have managed to level up the playing field for future encounters, fate send us back to play on Yeovils pitch again.

DUB RED, CLONDALKIN (04/07/2009 at 12:48)

WE STILL NEED SOMEONE TO WEAR THE NO 7 NEXT SEASON,OWEN A GOOD BIT OF BUISNESS 2 GOOD YOUNG PLAYERS IN WELLBECK AND MACHIEADA BOTH NOT READY FOR TO BE CONSIDERED FIRST TEAM PLAYERS YET.SAF KNOWS A REAL QUAILTY GOAL POACHER HARD TO COME BY AND EVERY CLUB IN THE WORLD KNOWS WE HAVE 80 MILLION IN THE BANK SO WILL TRY TO RIP US OFF.LET THERE BE NO PANIC GOALS WILL BE SCORED NEXT SEASON PLAY ROONEY IN A MORE CENTRAL POSITION AND BERBATOV HAS A LOT TO PROVE OWEN WILL BE OUT STAKE A PLACE IN ENGLAND SQUAD WHICH ALL CAN ONLY BE GOOD,A BIGGER ISSUE IS MIDFIELD SOMEONE WHO CAN KEEP A HOLD OF THE BALL OR SPLIT A DEFENCE WITH A KILLER PASS IS CLEARLY MISSING FROM OUR SQUAD SCHOLES TYPE PLAYER WHO CAN TACKLE WOULD BE NICE,LETS NOT FORGET VDS NEARING THE EXIT DOOR FOSTER STILL A BIT RAW FOR A CLUB LIKE UNITED LETS HOPE WE DONT END UP IN A SITUATION LIKE WHEN SMICHEILE LEFT AND IT TOOK 5 SEASONS TO REPLACE HIM..

The Man frae Govan (04/07/2009 at 13:04)

Big Spenders : Real Madrid - desperation following rivals big success, Man.Citeh - desperation following many years of rivals big successes.

how much have United & Barca spent? Maybe they key is how much NEEDS to be spent.

I'm so frightened by massive citeh cos we've only won 3 titles in a row and we've only got the best manager in history plotting our campaign and they've got all that money to spend on 10 different defensive midfielders.............

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