Manchester United’s shock swoop to take Michael Owen to Old Trafford on a free transfer will no doubt go down as another masterstroke by the wily old fox of football Sir Alex Ferguson.
In the space of a week the one-time golden boy of English football has gone from a player only interesting the likes of Hull City and Stoke, with murmurings from Aston Villa and Everton, into the subject of Fergie’s first meaningful dip into the summer transfer market!
Despite having £80million burning a hole in his ‘sky rocket’ from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, not to mention the 20 odd million quid he was set to hand over for Carlos Tevez, Ferguson has nipped into the bargain bucket section of the market for Owen.
It might have raised a few eyebrows around the football world but Fergie is no mug and he has proved to be shrewd in similar dealings in the past, whether it was signing the now legendary Eric Cantona from Leeds back in 1992, getting the Peter Pan of football Teddy Sheringham on board in 1997 or securing Henrik Larsson’s productive loan spell in 2006.
True Owen has been blighted by a catalogue of injury problems during his four-year spell at Newcastle with metatarsal, cruciate ligament and ankle injuries, to name a few, sidelining him for lengthy spells. However he still managed 26 goals in 71 appearances for the Magpies in what was billed as a disastrous spell of his career.
The laws of averages suggest Owen is now due a free run of injuries so United might have snapped him up at the right time. Age is also on his side as he will not turn 30 until December so a two-year contract is not a risk on that factor.
Owen has lost a lot of his deadly pace over the years, but he remains a classic ‘Fox in the box’ striker. And with the creative players in United’s ranks he will probably get numerous chances to find the net every time he takes to the field.
The worst-case scenario is Owen continues to suffer with injuries and does not play much for the Red Devils. But that would not be a disaster given that he cost nothing and reports suggest his wages will be determined on how effective he is for the club.
However Fergie is clever enough to recognise that Owen is man on a mission to prove himself to England coach Fabio Capello, who has ruthlessly axed him from his plans since taking over the job in early 2008. And what better way to do that than by forming a deadly partnership with Three Lions hitman Wayne Rooney and firing United to more silverware success in the meantime!
It is has all the hallmarks of a win-win situation all round for Owen and United!
Written by Craig Smithson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football betting.
