Former Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has revealed he would not have chosen to sign Michael Owen back in 2005, and instead would have moved for Nicolas Anelka.
The revelations, made in his new autobiography, describe how the Scot had identified Anelka, then of Fenerbahce, as his first choice transfer target during the summer, however then owner Freddy Shepherd instead wanted Owen.
“Initially I’d wanted to sign Nicolas Anelka. I’d had a meeting with his brother, who also acted as his agent, in my house in Cheshire, and I’d also spoken to the sporting director at Fenerbahce and they were willing to sell him.” said Souness.
“The player wanted to come too but Freddy Shepherd wanted Michael Owen instead, so we got Owen for £17million from Real instead but only after his preferred return to Liverpool had fallen through.”
Owen, who had an hit-and-miss four years on Tyneside, found the net 30 times for the Magpies during his tenure at the club, before finishing his injury prone career at Manchester United and Stoke City.
Anelka, who left Fenerbahce for Bolton Wanderers and subsequently Chelsea in the years to follow, went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup with the Blues, as well as win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2008/2009.
Hindsight can be a horrible thing, can’t it?
