Liverpool's Carragher raps Real Madrid over Owen

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has taken a swipe at Real Madrid over their sale of good friend Michael Owen to Newcastle United.
 
Liverpool's England central defender said: "Maybe it was because Michael didn't do enough backheels or flick it over people's heads."

"You don't want to criticise a club like Real Madrid but it's unbelievable after what he's done there that he wasn't playing."

"I can't see their new signings Robinho or Baptista doing any more than the goals Michael scored in the time he had in Spain."

"He puts the ball in the back of the net and Newcastle have got one of the best around."

Carragher refused to criticise Liverpool for not bringing Owen back to Anfield even though he and Steven Gerrard were keen for their mate to return 12 months after his £8m move to Spain.

Manager Rafa Benitez has taken some flak for allowing Liverpool's favourite son to slip through his fingers.

But Carragher said: "We've got a lot of good strikers. I think we can trust the manager's judgment."

"Of course I'm disappointed he didn't come back to Liverpool but you have to have respect for the players that have come in."

"We have spent a lot of money on strikers - £14m on Cisse, £7m on Crouch, £6m on Morientes - and, hopefully, they can do the damage."

"It's just one of those things. Maybe the timing was not 100 per cent right."

"It's great for Newcastle though, they are a massive club and haven't made a good a start to the season."

"But with Michael they will be looking for bigger and better things. That's why they got him and good luck to them."

Owen joked how Carragher had promised he would kick him when Liverpool play Newcastle.

Carragher laughed: "Michael's a friend of mine and I'd like to see him do well but he might be rivalling us for a European place come the end of the season so, hopefully, he doesn't do too well."

"When Michael was at Liverpool he would go through a stage when he hadn't scored for six or seven games but would then go and score a hat-trick."

"He is very mentally strong, he's a great fighter and I'm sure he'll show that at Newcastle."

"It is going to be tough playing against him and Shearer, especially with the St James' Park crowd behind them."