‘Broke my heart’ - Michael Owen makes astonishing Newcastle United & Liverpool admission

Michael Owen has risked the wrath of Newcastle United supporters once again by admitting a failed return to former club Liverpool ‘broke his heart’ prior to his move to St James Park.

The former England striker initially left Anfield during the summer of 2004 when he completed a reported £8m deal to join the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo at La Liga giants Real Madrid.

However, Owen struggled to make a major impact in the Spanish capital as was unable to find form on a consistent basis during a one-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. To compound his plight, the former Balon d’Or winner watched on from afar as a Liverpool side managed by future Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez claimed a memorable Champions League win over AC Milan.

With a return to the Premier League heavily speculated in the Spanish and English media, Owen has linked with a second stint at Anfield - but a lucrative club record offer from Newcastle saw off interest from the Reds.

The Magpies included a buyout clause in Owen’s contract that reduced with every year and offered Liverpool an opportunity to re-sign the striker throughout Benitez’s reign on Merseyside. But the Spaniard opted against such a move and Owen went on to endure a largely injury-laden spell at St James Park that culminated with him captaining the Magpies to their first ever relegation from the Premier League in 2009.

Owen left Tyneside on a free transfer at the end of the season and received a vociferous reception when he returned to St James Park with Manchester United during the following campaign, before going on to end his career with an underwhelming spell at Stoke City.

Reflecting on his desire to return to Liverpool throughout his time in Madrid and on Tyneside, Owen. told the FIVE Podcast: ”Everyone knows that I grew up playing for Liverpool in the academy and everything else.

“When I left to go to Madrid and I wanted to come back home, I wanted to go to Liverpool. That was where my heart was. Once I went to Newcastle, that almost broke my heart in a way that I wasn’t going back to what I had perceived as my club. At every point, when I then finished at Newcastle, it was, ‘Can I get to Liverpool?’ Brendan Rodgers said he didn’t need me at the time (in 2012) so, at that point, you have just got to go to whoever is the best available.”