Owen: I'm playing for the best team in the world

Michael Owen was today unveiled as Real Madrid’s latest ‘galactico’ at the Santiago Bernabeu and claimed he was happy to be joining “the best team in the world”.

The England striker passed a medical last night after Liverpool accepted an £8m (€11.9m)-plus-player offer from the Spanish giants.

Owen had just one season remaining on his contract at Anfield but after talks over a new deal stalled, new manager Rafael Benitez revealed yesterday he would be leaving.

Owen was given the number 11 short by Real legend Alfredo di Stefano.

The England striker said: “I am so proud to be wearing the number 11 shirt and I’d like to thank everyone for making me so welcome here.

“I’m going back for a few days but will be back on Thursday. It has been a nice couple of days here.

“I would like to say a special thank you for being given the opportunity to play for the best team in the world.”

Rumours that Owen was to leave Anfield intensified earlier this week, just days after the player claimed he was “closer than ever” to signing a new Liverpool deal.

He was then left on the bench for the Reds’ Champions League qualifier against Graz AK in Austria on Tuesday, a move which prevented him from becoming cup-tied.

Midfielder Antonio Nunez is expected to move in the opposite direction as part of the deal.

Owen’s departure ends a long association with the club that saw him come through the club’s youth ranks.

A prodigious talent, Owen was given his first-team chance by former manager Roy Evans at the tail end of the 1996-97 season and promptly scored on his debut against Wimbledon.

He quickly established himself as a first-team regular and went on to score 118 goals in 216 appearances for the club.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “We are opening the door to someone new. Signing Michael Owen is following our tradition. We are signing an excellent player with talent who is able to give us something special.

“He dreamed that he would play for Real Madrid, he wanted to play for us. He has accepted the challenge of playing for Real Madrid with some of the best players in the world and some players of legend.”

Perez added: “He fits perfectly into the Real Madrid culture. Not just because of the way he plays but because of his behaviour off the pitch.

“The greatness of our club is that these players work and play as a team knowing that what happens is followed by millions of fans throughout the world. At Real Madrid the norm is to win, to put on a show and to show an example both playing football and in their behaviour.

“I want to thank Michael and I am certain he will form part of the brilliant history of our club.”