Michael Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004
Michael Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Michael Owen says he would be willing to speak to Trent Alexander-Arnold about a potential move to Real Madrid should the Liverpool star wish to gather his advice. The 45-year-old famously swapped Merseyside for Madrid himself in 2004.
He only spent 12 months in Spain, having scored 16 times in 46 appearances amid a trophy-less season. Owen moved to Newcastle United in 2005 but has since revealed how he ultimately wanted a return to Liverpool, something which never came to fruition.
The forward left the Magpies in 2009 to join Manchester United for three seasons before finishing his career at Stoke City following the 2012/13 season. Alexander-Arnold potentially faces the same juncture Owen did in 2004.
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The Liverpool vice-captain is permitted to pen a pre-contract agreement with Madrid in 12 days’ time, when he enters the final six months of his current Reds deal. It is understood that new sporting director Richard Hughes has made it his priority to tie the 26-year-old down to a renewal.
Madrid’s widely-reported interest is bound to increase in January, which would be the last window in which Liverpool could yield a fee for their academy product as things stand. Owen says he is more than happy to offer some advice to Alexander-Arnold if Madrid do come calling.
Speaking to the ECHO, Owen said: “Would I be open for a chat? Of course, if he reached out for me, yeah. I have lots of people that I speak to.
“I work in television, I'm interviewing people all the time. I'm covering games, I’m in and around places and TV studios. I'm always chatting to people and people ask for advice and things like that. If Trent called me then of course I would.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract expires in June 2024
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Owen believes there is no correct or incorrect path Alexander-Arnold could take, and that only hindsight and time will dictate whether staying or leaving was the best call. He nevertheless reminded the defender that it is a choice that would stick with him throughout his career.
“There's no good or bad decision really,” Owen added. “The only good or bad decision is the after time, in 10 years. That's the only reason you'll ever say it is a good or bad decision.
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“Whereas when you live it, it's that way. I decided that at the time and I can't change it. From Trent's point of view, he'll make his decision based on all the facts in front of him, and that will be the right thing for him at this time.
“That's what he'll have to live with forever, and I'm sure he'll be comfortable with that. If other people have this opinion in the future, as I say, these after-timers, then, whatever. Just whatever. It doesn't matter.”