Michael Owen is in a unique position to access Raheem Sterling’s contract stand-off with Liverpool.
Before he was a BT commentator, horse race owner and the subject of countless Twitter barbs, Owen was the most exciting, young English footballer around, having, like Sterling, broke into Liverpool and England’s first-team as a teenager.
Owen would leave Anfield for Real Madrid in 2004 for £8million, following a contract dispute with club, and he sympathises with Sterling in his current actuation.
“Football clubs know exactly where they stand and how to ‘play the game'”, Owen wrote in his column on Sports Lobster. “They have the huge advantage in any dispute of being able to count on the blind support of their army of fans who have a loyalty to the badge.
“Players, Managers and Owners will all come and go but the club will always remain, confirming that this attitude is perfectly understandable. While this may provide an advantage to the club, it might not always sit right with its employees.
Owen wonders why Liverpool have been so open in discussing Sterling’s contract situation, saying neither party in the dispute can claim the moral high ground, and respects Sterling for sticking to his principles, if it is the case that the club have “backed him into the corner.”
“Looking from the outside, one factor to consider is how open the club has been in discussing what is normally a private matter. Why this stance?
“We normally hear of a contract extension being announced out of the blue once it is done and dusted. Is it a tactic to put the pressure on the player?
“If it was, it’s working. Fans are beginning to question the same old things that are always directed at footballers. Loyalty to the cause, dragging it out for more money etc. It may not be working from the players point of view though.
“Nobody likes to feel like they are getting backed into a corner and if that’s the case, I respect Sterling for standing his ground for the time being.”
Owen goes on to say that arguments that footballers are motivated by greed lack context, considering the financial riches involved in top level football, and the precarious nature of a footballer’s career.
“Despite what people say, footballers shouldn’t feel bad about earning their share of the market value. Anybody that campaigns otherwise is talking utter nonsense. People talk about ludicrous 7 and even 8 figure bonuses being dished out to business high flyers in the City but if you are earning your employers millions then don’t you deserve your percentage?
“The same applies in any walk of life. This is a short career. Aim for as much success as possible playing at the highest standard you can and you will get your just rewards.”
“Of course, there are boundaries and greed is never a good thing but who can blame him if he believes he is worth more than is being offered and possibly knows he can get more elsewhere?”
The former Liverpool and Manchester Untied striker also said some people’s view on his acrimonious transfer to Real Madrid still bothers him and that the Sterling-Liverpool dispute is, in fact, a ‘win-win situation’.
“Should he leave then the club will receive top dollar. If he stays then the club will have the services of a top player who could develop into a world class one. In my opinion its a win win situation”.
If you want to read the entirety of Owen’s column, here you go.
