Newcastle United have hit back at their former striker Michael Owen after his tweet about playing for a "poor team" was interpreted to be a dig at the Tyneside club.
Replying to comments on Twitter after he signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United, Owen wrote: "Just to answer some of your tweets. Prefer playing less often in a top team than every game in a poor team. Been there a(nd) didn't enjoy it."
Given that Owen's previous clubs are Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle there seems little doubt about which club Owen was referring to.
"Michael is the most expensive signing Newcastle has ever made and I'm disappointed with his comments," Newcastle chairman Derek Llambias told the Daily Express.
"Under Kevin Keegan's management with us he was offered an extension of his contract at £140,000 a week, which he did not take. He was already on £133,000 a week.
"Quite honestly, what did Newcastle United get out of it? His time here cost the club some £40 million at something like £1.3 million per goal."
Having made the £16 million move from Real, Owen scored 30 goals in 79 appearances for the Magpies but was unable to steer the club clear of relegation at the end of the 2008/09 season.
Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd added: "We might have been a poor team, but we made him a rich man.
"It's very disappointing to hear Michael Owen say that about Newcastle. There was nothing poor about what we paid him, more than £90,000 a week.
"Look at what it cost Newcastle. We paid £16 million to Real Madrid for him and his wages over four years cost approximately £20 million. Add on the bolt-ons such as National Insurance and Owen cost £40 million over the four years he was there.
"It works out at around £500,000 for every game in a Newcastle shirt. Poor? Well, he wasn't poorer for it."
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| Michael Owen prefer playing less in top team than every game in poor one Photo: The Sun |
Replying to comments on Twitter after he signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United, Owen wrote: "Just to answer some of your tweets. Prefer playing less often in a top team than every game in a poor team. Been there a(nd) didn't enjoy it."
Given that Owen's previous clubs are Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle there seems little doubt about which club Owen was referring to.
"Michael is the most expensive signing Newcastle has ever made and I'm disappointed with his comments," Newcastle chairman Derek Llambias told the Daily Express.
"Under Kevin Keegan's management with us he was offered an extension of his contract at £140,000 a week, which he did not take. He was already on £133,000 a week.
"Quite honestly, what did Newcastle United get out of it? His time here cost the club some £40 million at something like £1.3 million per goal."
Having made the £16 million move from Real, Owen scored 30 goals in 79 appearances for the Magpies but was unable to steer the club clear of relegation at the end of the 2008/09 season.
Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd added: "We might have been a poor team, but we made him a rich man.
"It's very disappointing to hear Michael Owen say that about Newcastle. There was nothing poor about what we paid him, more than £90,000 a week.
"Look at what it cost Newcastle. We paid £16 million to Real Madrid for him and his wages over four years cost approximately £20 million. Add on the bolt-ons such as National Insurance and Owen cost £40 million over the four years he was there.
"It works out at around £500,000 for every game in a Newcastle shirt. Poor? Well, he wasn't poorer for it."
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