England icon Michael Owen has now revealed his attempts to re-sign for Liverpool before heading to Manchester United in 2009.
Owen had just left Newcastle United at the time and claimed that he had just three Premier League options available to him.
The former striker was speaking on ‘Up Front with Simon Jordan’, and shared a lengthy story on the conundrum.
Liverpool didn’t want to re-sign Owen, and Manchester United came knocking.
Owen said: “When I ran out of contract at Newcastle and was on a Bosman I phoned Carra and said speak to Brendan and see if he fancies me.
“And he said no, we are just about to sign [David] N’Gog. He basically said they didn’t need me.
“And time moves on with Torres and Suarez and Liverpool aren’t going to wait for me, I have no resentment whatsoever.
“But I don’t respect resentment the other way, because my first port of call was to go back to the club.
“After that when Liverpool say no, what do you want me to do? My options were Hull City, Everton and Manchester United.
“They were the three teams which came in, in the Premier League. I had had my stint away. So in the Premier League they were the three teams.
“With all due respect, Hull were in the relegation scrap, I didn’t really want to stay away again and play in a relegation scrap. I was still a decent player.
Liverpool rejected a Michael Owen return before he signed for Man United
Owen continued to tell the story, one that led to him making 52 appearances for United, scoring 17 goals.
He continued: “Now I’m thinking Everton – I’m going to get absolutely! I was prepared to go to Everton.
“I flew to America, David Moyes was on holiday, and played golf and spent a full day with him. I was a boyhood Everton fan but I am going to be hated now but I have got no option.
“But then I landed home and literally within a day Nicky Butt phoned me and said just so you know the gaffer is going to call you. I said about what. And he said he wants to sign you.
“I was like you are joking, put the phone down and Sir Alex rang.
“I was like of course I know Liverpool fans were going to hate me but I was like, what can I do? I phoned Brendan Rodgers!”
It would be a surprise if Liverpool fans did harbour any ill-feeling towards Owen upon hearing this story, with United perhaps being a lesser-evil in their eyes.
But it certainly is fascinating to hear the story from the striker’s perspective, a player who had a fairly unique career path.
And with Owen now a part of Liverpool’s past, Jurgen Klopp’s side are now being linked with a £52m striker in January.