Michael Owen reveals who made him leave Liverpool for Real Madrid

Michael Owen has admitted he left Liverpool in 2004 to join Real Madrid because of a former teammate, Jamie Carragher.

Owen claims he left the Reds to join the Los Blancos in order to prove Carragher wrong.

The former England striker claimed that Carragher tried to persuade him not to move to the Santiago Bernabeu, because he would not have regular playing time.

“I was in America, Jamie Carragher and I were sharing the same room.

“We were on a pre-season tour, and manager, Rafa Benitez, had just taken over at Liverpool.

“My agent called me on the phone and said, ‘Madrid want to buy you.’

“I just remember putting the phone down after a few minutes discussing it, and Carragher looked at me and said, ‘don’t do it.’
“And I said to him, ‘why not?’ and he said I would not play there.

“That actually made me sign for Real Madrid, thinking I am going to prove Carragher wrong.

“I always say to myself that it was an excellent problem. How could you complain about Real Madrid being interested in you?” Owen told talkSPORT.