Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen was involved in a bust-up with former Newcastle teammate and all-time Premier League top scorer Alan Shearer.
In Reboot – My Life, My Time, which is being serialized in the Daily Mirror, Owen also goes into detail about his relationship with Newcastle’s fans during an injury-hit spell with the club, which ended with him joining Manchester United after the Magpies’ relegation to the Championship in 2009.
“I should have followed my gut instincts, I didn’t want to go there – my heart was set on a return to Liverpool,” said Owen – who had left Anfield for Real Madrid in 2004 – of his move to St James’ Park.
The 39-year-old former England captain also claimed Newcastle was “only a big club in the sense that it has a lot of fans and a big stadium” to which Alan Shearer responded on social media platform Twitter “Yes, Michael, we thought that also, whilst on £120K a week.”
The war of words did not end there instead Owen hit back at Shearer tweeting
“Not sure you are as loyal to Newcastle as you make out mate. I distinctly remember you being inches away from signing for Liverpool after Sir Bobby Robson put you on the bench. You tried everything to get out.”
Michael Owen also said in his book that he felt that he was scapegoated during his time at Newcastle
“I felt I was being made a scapegoat,” said Owen.
“When you analyze it, it all makes sense. Shearer’s record as a manager in the last eight games of that 2008-09 season was dire: lost five, drew two, won one.”
Of his 49-year-old former England team-mate, Owen added: “Alan Shearer and I still haven’t talked this out face to face and that’s a shame because, as I’ve said many, many times, we were very good friends.”
