Michael Owen lamented the ‘unhappy’ inevitability relating to Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle.
Nevertheless, the previous Ballon d’Or winner believed the Swedish marksman has each proper to desire a transfer away and squeeze as a lot out of his profession as attainable.
3
“If any respectable participant turns into obtainable, the massive boys come and finally they transfer,” Owen stated on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“It is unhappy since you need competitors in soccer.
“However you place your self in a participant’s viewpoint. If you did not have ambition, then soccer can be nothing. You have received one brief profession making an attempt to win as a lot as you’ll be able to, making an attempt to get to the perfect workforce.
“That is what drives everyone. Individuals will say it is cash, it is not.
“Most footballers simply wish to be in the perfect groups, in the perfect competitions and successful trophies.
“Sadly, this state of affairs won’t ever, ever change.”
Why does Isak wish to go away Newcastle?
Isak’s future was plunged into uncertainty final Thursday when he expressed a need to discover his choices away from Newcastle.
He was left behind from the Magpies’ pre-season tour as a result of what the membership claimed was a thigh harm, but it surely was simply hours later the true motive for Isak’s absence from the touring squad was confirmed.
Defending Premier League champions Liverpool are the leaders within the hunt for Isak, though Saudi Professional League facet Al-Hilal have additionally been credited with a critical curiosity.
Ought to both facet desk a bid, it would take critical cash to carry Newcastle to the negotiating desk after they slapped a £150million price ticket on the Swedish worldwide.
3
Though Isak stays contracted to Newcastle till 2028, Magpies boss Eddie Howe conceded there was ‘no probability’ the striker can be a late arrival on the pre-season tour.
Howe additionally admitted Isak’s future is ‘not in my full management’, though the membership does ‘to a level’.
Did Owen expertise an analogous state of affairs to Isak?
Though Toon followers have been left crushed at Isak’s resolution, Owen has the distinctive place of understanding precisely why the Swede needs to look elsewhere.
Owen rose via the ranks of Liverpool’s academy earlier than he broke into the primary workforce and made his senior debut in Could 1997 aged simply 17.
Over the following seven seasons, Owen slammed residence 158 targets from 297 appearances for the Reds and even scooped the Ballon d’Or in 2001, such was his brilliance on the sphere.
However as they achieve this typically when a participant not on their books excels, Actual Madrid got here calling in the summertime of 2004.
3
Chatting with The Athletic final November, Owen opened up on the gut-wrenching resolution to depart the membership the place he made his title.
“Actual Madrid is a glamour membership, however I by no means had any ideas or goals about taking part in for them,” Owen stated.
“After I received wind of their curiosity, I had blended feelings. There was satisfaction {that a} membership like that was excited about me. There was an intrigue, I assume.
“I tossed and turned for practically per week from the second I heard in regards to the curiosity and determined to go.
“I spoke to the supervisor (Rafa Benitez) and I spoke to Rick Parry (chief government). It was like, ‘Let’s agree I am going to do a 12 months or two then I am going to come again.’
“Subconsciously, that was what I wanted, reassurance. I actually did not wish to go away – Liverpool was my membership. However I additionally questioned whether or not I would find yourself regretting it if I did not strive it.”
Owen in the end performed only one season within the Spanish capital the place he didn’t land any silverware and scored 16 targets from 45 appearances.
He returned to the Premier League in 2004 after Newcastle agreed a then-club document charge for his companies.
Sadly for Owen, his time up north was riddled with accidents as he performed simply 79 video games throughout 4 seasons.
He would later tarnish his fame amongst Liverpool supporters when he joined their rivals Manchester United in 2009, the place he received the Premier League and League Cup.
Owen spent three seasons at Previous Trafford earlier than he moved to Stoke Metropolis in September 2012, which proved to be his remaining marketing campaign as an expert.