Owen unveiled as a Real Madrid player
England striker Michael Owen was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player in a presentation ceremony at the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday.
England striker Michael Owen was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player in a presentation ceremony at the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday.
The 24-year-old, who completed a whirlwind 12 million euro ($14.71 million) move from Liverpool by signing a four-year contract, was handed the famous white shirt bearing number 11 by the club's former great Alfredo di Stefano.
The number 11 belonged to reserve striker Javier Portillo last season but its most illustrious owner was another Real Madrid great Paco Gento, the fleet-footed Spanish winger who won six European Cups with the club in the 1950s and 60s.
The shirt was once worn by Laurie Cunningham, one of the first English players to try their luck in Spain after moving from West Bromwich Albion for almost one million pounds in 1979.
Owen's transfer was completed in record time with the striker completing the move that sees him join his England captain David Beckham in Madrid just four days after reports of a possible deal first surfaced in the British media.
Knockdown price
Real recruited Owen, who has an option to extend his deal for an extra season, at a knockdown price because the player had less than a year to run on his contract and the Merseysiders feared losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
Second-string midfielder Antonio Nunez is moving to Anfield as part of the deal.
A former European Footballer of the Year, Owen becomes the fourth winner of the award to form part of the present Real Madrid side.
Brazilian striker Ronaldo has been given the honour on two occasions, while French midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Portuguese winger Luis Figo have each been awarded it once.
Owen flew in to the Spanish capital in a private jet on Friday where he had a medical prior to completing his move.
Howeer, his reception was far more low key than the one given last year to Beckham, whose every move was tracked by frenzied reporters and fans.
Owen was expected to fly out of Madrid shortly after the presentation ceremony and hook up with his England team mates to prepare for Wednesday's friendly against Ukraine in Newcastle.
He is likely to report for duty at Real late next week when the team will start preparing for the second leg of their Champions League qualifier against Wisla Krakow.