Carragher can see the Real appeal

JAMIE CARRAGHER would not blame Michael Owen if the Liverpool striker was tempted by a move to Real Madrid.

Owen has been linked with a move to the Spanish giants and was apparently left on the bench for his club’s Champions League qualifying win over Graz AK in Austria on Tuesday so as not to be cup-tied.

Carragher has admitted that while he does not want to see the striker leave Anfield, he would understand if Owen did go.

“I can understand a team like Real Madrid turning someone’s head,” said Carragher today.

“They would turn my head if they came in for me.

“You cannot have a go at the lad for thinking about moving on, it is a special club.

“But I play for a special club too now and so does Michael, and he realises that.

“But you look at Real Madrid and they are the one special club in the world.

“Obviously I would love him to stay.

“But if he did go I would have a go at the club (Liverpool) because of the club (Real Madrid) that are involved.”

After the breakdown of contract talks at Liverpool, it has become a distinct possibility that Owen will leave the club he has been at since he was 11 years old.

It now appears any transfer would have to involve a straight cash deal - probably for around £15million - after Real Madrid coach Jose Camacho allowed Fernando Morientes to become cup-tied in the Champions League win at Wisla Krakow on Wednesday night.

Samuel Eto’o had also been mentioned as a possible makeweight in any deal for Owen but he is determined to join Barcelona.

However, Carragher is still hanging on to the hope that Owen, 24, might have a change of heart.

“We would obviously love Michael to stay because he is one of our top players.

“He has been our main goalscorer for the last five or six years and we would be disappointed to lose him.

“But there was a lot of talk before the game against Graz in midweek, but the lads showed that we can concentrate and be focused on the game to get a good result, that’s the main thing.

Carragher added: “While he has been here he has been outstanding.

“He single-handedly won us the FA Cup and was European Footballer of the Year.

“I mean, he has always been our top scorer so he has given this club a lot of his career.

“There is still a chance he might stay because he hasn’t gone yet, and I saw that Morientes scored two last night in the Champions League so he might go there as fourth choice!

“He’s not gone yet so there is hope that he will stay.