While Sir Bobby Robson claimed the previous summer that the signing of Patrick Kluivert was reminiscent of the furore surrounding Alan Shearers blockbuster transfer in 1996, the Dutchmans transfer was a comparative non-event in contrast to the clubs marquee signing of 2005. The capture of England international Michael Owen has been the only signing to truly rival Wor Shearers in terms of sheer fanaticism from a frenzied and excited Geordie public. In truth, the transfer was not a complete bolt from the blue on transfer deadline day, as it had been stemming for quite some time, as the club engaged in a tug-of-war with Liverpool for the services of the Real Madrid man. However, with the Reds having stormed to European glory while Newcastle languished in the bottom half of the Premier League table, as well as taking Owens obvious Liverpool connections into account, not many gave the Tyneside outfit a prayer in winning his signature. Indeed, it looked like they would lose out in a high-profile transfer transfer saga for a top English international striker for the second successive summer, with Manchester United having won the race for Wayne Rooney the previous August. However, despite Owens willingness to rejoin the Reds, Benitez simply refused to meet Reals asking price, leaving the door wide open for Newcastle to ensnare him for a club-record £17 million.
''I spoke to Liverpool and unfortunately that deal didnt come off. Thats life. Deals sometimes happen, sometimes they dont. All I can do now is look to future with Newcastle and hope to do well in this black and white shirt. Ive had a bit of a head-spinning couple of days. There were three great clubs in the frame but the further it got towards the deadline, the more it became clear Newcastle going to be my destination. - Michael Owen, August 2005.
Despite this lukewarm sentiment on his behalf at signing for the club, clearly using the Magpies as a vehicle for first-team football in a World Cup year, he was welcomed by an estimated 20,000 Geordie faithful upon his unveiling.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
