Stoke City striker Michael Owen has back tracked on Twitter after comments he made about his departure at Newcastle United angered fans of the club. Owen claimed that Newcastle failed to offer him a new contract when they were relegated in 2009, because it would have been “financial suicide” for them to have done so.
At the time Owen had declined a contract offered by the club in December 2008, successfully sought substantial damages from the Daily Express in June 2009 for claiming that he was to retire due to lack of Premier League interest in him and his agents published a 34 page brochure advertising his services. He left Newcastle on a free transfer at the end of his 4 year contract, during which he made 79 appearances. He then joined Manchester United on a ‘pay as you play deal’ until 2012, during which he made 52 appearances before joining Stoke, also on a ‘pay as you play deal for the 2012/13 season.
Owen, who has form on Twitter for making controversial comments, claimed that Newcastle had lied to fans to take the moral high ground. He made no mention of being offered a previous contract being offered in 2008 which he had declined, but has taken to Twitter today to defend himself against the backlash of Newcastle fans who have criticised him for his comments, by seeking to 'clarify' yesterday's comments (newest tweet first);
Yesterday's comments;
Today's follow up (most recent tweet first);
Michael Owen has this week announced his retirement from professional football. He will now concentrate on his career in the race horsing industry.
I wish he would get a call up for one farewell game before he retires !
Purely so he can embarrass himself that little bit further
My greatest memory of this buffoon will always be him taking off his track suit to celebrate winning the league at Sunderland last year only to be left disappointed . So much funnier than terry celebrating the champs league final
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