Owen to join Real: Benitez

Michael Owen will leave Liverpool for Real Madrid, Reds manager Rafael Benitez confirmed.

Benitez said Owen would move to Real in return for an undisclosed transfer fee and midfielder Antonio Nunez, who will become a Liverpool player provided he passes a medical.

The former Valencia boss, who replaced Gerard Houllier earlier this summer, said he had been powerless to prevent the England striker from leaving because he only had a year left on his contract.

"When I came here he (Owen) had one year left on his contract," Benitez told a press conference here Friday.

"Real Madrid knew that, and when a big club like them come knocking you cannot control it."