Michael Owen has been criticised by a former Manchester United team-mate for his recent comments in an interview with Rio Ferdinand regarding Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane
Michael Owen believes he's seen the perfect replacement for Mohamed Salah
Michael Owen has come under fire for his comments on Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane
(Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)
Michael Owen has come under fire for remarks deemed "disrespectful" by his ex-Manchester United team-mate Ben Foster.
The former England striker has caused a stir with his candid comments on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. Owen claimed that he was better than Wayne Rooney when he burst onto the Premier League scene at 17 with Liverpool.
He reinforced this claim on social media, pointing to their early career goal-scoring records. United legend Rooney tactfully avoided directly commenting on the matter on his BBC show, opting instead to commend Owen, who he described as a "very different player" to himself.
However, Owen continued to court controversy by criticising Harry Kane's decision to move to Germany just as he appeared poised to break the Premier League's all-time scoring record. Foster, who shared the dressing room with Owen in the 2009/10 season at Old Trafford, has now spoken out against his former team-mate.
He criticised Owen, despite recognising his notable achievements in football, for his lack of grace towards Kane and Bayern Munich and for comparing himself to Rooney without a hint of humility. "It is a little bit disrespectful, without a doubt," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast.
"If you're listening to that as a Bayern Munich fan, you're saying, 'Hang on a minute, Michael, we're one of the biggest football clubs in the world.' I think it's definitely more aimed at the league.
"If he had stayed in England, he would have been very much on his way to breaking that Alan Shearer record. I understand it, but just leave it. You haven't got to come for him, have you? There were a lot of things coming out of that interview, like the comparisons with Wayne Rooney and who was the best at 17 years old.
Michael Owen kicked off his career at Liverpool but ended up playing for Manchester United
Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney played together for United
"He (Owen) was like nothing you've ever seen before. Don't get me wrong, Wayne Rooney was an absolute beast, but numbers-wise, Michael Owen was on a different planet."
He added: "The only difference is that Wayne Rooney, though, went on and did that in the Premier League for another 12, 13 or 14 years. There's not much modesty there [from Owen] basically. I think with the career that he's had, just enjoy it mate, you've earned it."
Owen, now 45, achieved a remarkable goal tally of 222 across a 482-game club career, featuring for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, the Red Devils and Stoke. His career ended at the age of 32 due to injuries, but not before scoring 40 goals for England.
Harry Kane of England during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between England and Andorra at Villa Park on September 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England
Harry Kane has responded to Michael Owen's criticism
Rooney, now 39, moved to United from Everton at the age of 18, going on to become the club's leading scorer with 253 goals and securing five Premier League titles along with a Champions League trophy. He also set a record with 53 goals for England.
Kane, who currently holds the record, left Tottenham in the summer of 2023 after a 19-year spell, making a high-profile move to Munich. Owen raised eyebrows over Kane's decision, given that he had scored 213 Premier League goals for Spurs and was just 48 shy of surpassing Alan Shearer's record.
Kane's choice paid dividends in May when he celebrated his first career trophy as Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title. Addressing Owen's scepticism, Kane expressed his contentment over his move to Germany.
Speaking ahead of England's match against Serbia on Tuesday, Kane said: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I've spent a bit of time with him but don't know him well. Obviously, he is a Premier League great and an England great as well.
"I'll respect him as a person, but ultimately as he will know, everyone's career is different - everyone's decisions and motivations are different. I know he was insinuating I went just for the trophy, but it was to be at the highest level for as long as possible."
He added: "I'm really happy in that sense of playing big games, title runs, big Champions League matches, the Club World Cup quarter-final. I feel I'm improving as a player.
"I'm pushing my limits as a player in terms of goalscoring. It's hard not to hear things these days, but the decisions are best for me and I'm really happy that I made that decision and very happy at Bayern Munich now."
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