Real Madrid: Michael Owen reveals the dark side of Real Madrid: “You can’t even breathe. You lose your essence”

  • Share
674827f5a5cb6 by Ditible

In the middle of the debate about Kylian Mbappé’s poor performance at Real Madrid, former English footballer Michael Owen, Ballon d’Or winner in 2001, has spoken about his tough experience in the merengue team (“a place where the pressure is so great that you can’t even breathe”) in an interview he gave to The Athletic and The Guardian.

The Chester forward, for whom Real Madrid paid 12 million euros to Liverpool in 2004, explained that “when I found out about Madrid’s interest, I had mixed emotions. I was proud that a club like that was interested in me. I felt flattered, but at the same time unsure. I tossed and turned in bed for almost a week before I decided.

Michael Owen:

Michael Owen: “The moment I decided to go to Real Madrid I lost control of my career”Beatriz Guzmán

The then Liverpool star relates that “I spoke with Rafa Benítez and Rick Parry. It was something like: ‘Let’s agree that I’ll stay for a year or two and then I’ll come back.’ Unconsciously, that’s what I needed, peace of mind. In reality I didn’t want leave, Liverpool was my club. But I also wondered if I would end up regretting it if I didn’t try.

Owen: “Madrid is the Holy Grail for a footballer, but the pressure is so great that you can’t even breathe”

Finally Owen (December 14, 1979) signed for Real Madrid, a club in which he played for only one season in which he played 36 games and scored 13 goals.

As soon as I made the decision to go to Madrid, I lost control of my career. It was the end of the perception that others had of me as a player

Michael Owen

“As soon as I made the decision to go to Madrid, I lost control of my career. It was the end of the perception that others had of me as a player. It is true that it was the Holy Grail for a footballer, but it was also a place where The pressure is so great that you can’t even breathe. It wasn’t what I had expected,” acknowledged the 44-year-old former soccer player.

In 2005 Michael Owen was transferred from Real Madrid to Newcastle for around 20 million euros.

Real Madrid can be a place where you lose your essence. In my case, it cost me my professional life.

Michael Owen

“Madrid is a club with history, glamour, and everything a footballer dreams of, but when you get there, you realize that it can be a place where you lose your essence. In my case, it cost me my professional life,” he declared. Owen on his short-lived time at Real Madrid.

  • Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *