Owen reluctant to leave Real

MICHAEL OWEN says that, despite the speculation linking him with a return to the Premiership, he is reluctant to leave Real Madrid and will move only if the club tells him to go.

"I don't know what my situation is at the moment, but I know I am happy here," he said yesterday. "All that I've been told is that Real Madrid are happy with me. I'm happy with the way things have gone and obviously I want to win things with Real Madrid and I'm not thinking of leaving."

Owen, who joined Real from Liverpool for €12 million last August, had a difficult first few months at the club but earned himself a regular place in the starting line-up by the end of the season.