Michael Owen has hit back on Twitter over criticism surrounding his transfer to Manchester United, claiming that he tried to move back to Liverpool several times.
Owen was adored on Merseyside before his acrimonious transfer to rivals Manchester United caused many Liverpool fans to turn on him.
The striker has now hit back at the criticism levelled at him after this move, insisting that he always wanted to move back to Anfield, but the return never materialised.
Owen made 284 appearances for Liverpool, scoring a massive 150 goals over a seven-year spell.
He then moved to Real Madrid in 2004, but his time at the Bernabeu was an unhappy one and he returned to England with Newcastle United.
He spent four years at Newcastle before the infamous move to the Red Devils, where he ended up playing 52 times, scoring 17 goals.
I've been reading the usual hateful messages about me playing for Man Utd.
Once again and for the avoidance of doubt:
I love @LFC and before every move since I left I tried to go back. It never happened and so I had to continue my career by signing for other clubs.— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) November 14, 2017
OPINION
There can really be no doubting Owen’s love for Liverpool. Owen spent his formative years at the club and went on to become a legend before his move to Manchester United changed all that. While it was ultimately his decision to join Liverpool’s rivals, you cannot argue with the fact that he needed to progress with his career as best he could. A move to Manchester United obviously represented the best move for him at the time, and it was justified by his only Premier League title in 2011. Liverpool fans cannot be blamed for their animosity towards Owen, but a little sympathy is surely in order for a man who did so much for the club.