Former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has labelled Michael Owen as his worst ever signing.
The Magpies paid Real Madrid £16.8 million for the striker in 2005, with rumours suggesting that he would’ve preferred to return to Liverpool where he started his career.
The former England international spent four years at St. James’ Park but his time was blighted by injury as he only managed to play 79 league games, scoring 26 goals.
Owen went on to join Manchester United, where he won a Premier League winners’ medal, and played 31 games in three years for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Shepherd told the Independent: “The worst [buy]? Owen. It never worked out. Was the boat pushed out too far with that transfer? Yeah, I think so.”
Now in the Championship after last season’s relegation, Newcastle is owned by Sports Direct creator Mike Ashley, who took over in 2007.
There were highs for Shepherd, his family and the family of co-owner Sir John Hall, though, particularly the capture of local hero Alan Shearer, the appointment of Sir Bobby Robson, as well as title challenges and Champions League football.