Newcastle boss slams Real Madrid over Owen treatment

Newcastle United boss Graeme Souness has taken a swipe at Real Madrid over their treatment of Michael Owen.

Souness said: "At Real Madrid Michael was never given the treatment or professional respect he was due."

 
"But he'll be idolised on Tyneside and I think he already knows that's he's wanted at this club."

He continued: "Michael wasn't treated in the manner he would want to be treated."

"He was always treated as if he was second-best, but whenever he got the chance he produced the goods for them and that shows you the type of person he is."

"I played abroad but I think Real Madrid is just a unique place."

"Players go there and they are commodities who can sometimes get treated badly. But that's the way Madrid operate - they do treat some players badly."

"I think the people who run Madrid saw Michael as someone who didn't have a trick - he hasn't got the trick that gets the crowd shouting 'Ole' like, for example, a Zidane or a Ronaldinho."

"Michael just has that terrible trick of putting the ball in the back of the net all the time."

"And for me that's not a bad habit to have."

"I'm just happy we have got him up here - but if Madrid's new boys don't produce the goods, then I am sure they will rue the day they ever let Michael leave."