Manchester United only signed Michael Owen after missing out on Karim Benzema… who opted to join Real Madrid
Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped to land the French star from Lyon in 2009 but were forced to turn to the then-Newcastle forward
MANCHESTER UNITED only signed Michael Owen after missing out on Karim Benzema... who instead opted to join Real Madrid in 2009.
Sir Alex Ferguson had been hoping to land the French star from Lyon all summer.
Now, former Liverpool star Owen has revealed he begged Benzema to join Los Blancos, as he knew he'd be moving to Old Trafford if the France international went to Spain.
Owen told French TV channel Canal+: "I've got a lot to thank him [Benzema] for.
"He might not know, but I wouldn't have gone to Manchester United if it wasn't for Benzema.
"I think Manchester United wanted to buy Benzema... and he chose Real Madrid.
"I was told by Sir Alex Ferguson, 'We want Benzema, but if Benzema doesn't come, then you're coming'.
"I was pleading with Benzema to go to Real Madrid.
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"So thank you, to him."
Owen - who won the Ballon d'Or in 2001 - only left Liverpool in 2004 having spent his whole youth and senior career at Anfield to join Real Madrid.
Following one season at the Nou Camp, the 89-cap England international moved to Newcastle where he spent a further four years.
That's when he got the call from Fergie to move to Old Trafford - and took over the famous No7 shirt from Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Real that same summer.
While he only scored five times in 31 Premier League games during his three seasons at the club, he did score one of United's more famous goals in recent memory.
Owen struck in the 96th-minute of a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City - meaning he netted in FOUR huge derbies, including the Merseyside, Tyne-Wear and El Clasico clashes.
The ex-football star is now turning his attention to horse racing, after winding down his career at Stoke in 2012-13.
In fact, Owen is set to make his racing debut at Ascot on November 24... but doesn't appear to be doing all that well in practice, falling off his horse TWICE.