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Rediff.com  » Sports » Michael Owen presented in Man U colours
This article was first published 14 years ago

Michael Owen presented in Man U colours

Last updated on: July 14, 2009 

Image: Michael Owen
Photographs: Reuters

The official presentation of Michael Owen in the Manchester United shirt took place on Monday at the club's Carrington training centre in Manchester. 

Former European Footballer of the Year Owen completed a surprise free transfer move to Manchester United last week.

Owen, 29, had been out of contract after deciding to leave relegated Newcastle United and becomes Alex Ferguson's second signing of the close-season following Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia's move from Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

The ex-Liverpool striker has struggled for form and fitness in four years at Newcastle, scoring just 30 goals, and has been consistently overlooked by England manager Fabio Capello.

Owen, seventh on the list of all-time top scorers in the Premier League with 144.

Obertan and Valencia unveiled too

Image: (from left to right) Manchester United's new signings Gabriel Obertan, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia pose for photographs at the clubs Carrington training centre in Manchester
Photographs: Reuters

United's other two signings in the close season, Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia, were also unveiled on the occasion.

United have reportedly paid 19 million pounds for their three new signings -- 16 million to Wigan Athletic for Valencia and three million to Girondins Bordeaux for Obertan.

The 20-year-old Obertan, who can play in a number of different attacking positions, has joined United on a four-year contract.

Winger Valencia has been touted as the replacement for Ronaldo at Old Trafford but the Ecuadorian believes he can win over the United crowd on his own terms.

"When I had my first conversations with Manchester United it was never said that I was coming here as a replacement for the previous number seven," he told reporters.

Ferguson says United have done all their shopping

Image: Manchester United's new signings Gabriel Obertan (left), Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia (right) pose for photographs with coach Alex Ferguson at the clubs Carrington training centre in Manchester
Photographs: Reuters

Manchester United will not be signing any more players ahead of the new season after being priced out of the market for France striker Karim Benzema, manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.

Ferguson, speaking at the presentation of his trio of new signings Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia, said he was satisfied with his close-season business, funded by the record 80-million-pound ($130 million) sale of winger Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

"I think that has concluded our business," Ferguson told reporters at the club's Carrington training ground.

"I think we are in the middle of a difficult summer in football where it is difficult to get value but I think we have got good value and this is the right way to go for us."

United had been interested in signing striker Benzema, who completed his move from Olympique Lyon to Real Madrid last week.

Source: REUTERS
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