SPAIN: ENGLAND STRIKER MICHAEL OWEN WAS OFFICIALLY UNVEILED AS A REAL MADRID PLAYER AT THE SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM AFTER MOVING FROM LIVERPOOL FC

Record ID: 342226

  • Title: SPAIN: ENGLAND STRIKER MICHAEL OWEN WAS OFFICIALLY UNVEILED AS A REAL MADRID PLAYER AT THE SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM AFTER MOVING FROM LIVERPOOL FC
  • Date: 14th August 2004
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (AUGUST 14, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. EXTERIOR REAL MADRID'S SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM 2. SIGN ESTADIO SANTIAGO BERNABEU 3. PHOTOGRAPHERS 4. REAL MADRID PRESIDENT SR FLORENTINO PEREZ ON STAGE 5. MICHAEL OWEN COMES ON STAGE, TOWARDS MICROPHONE 6. PRESS 7. OWEN AND FLORENTINO PEREZ SHAKE HANDS 8. NUMBER ELEVEN SHIRT PRESENTED TO OWEN BY EX REAL MADRID PLAYER, NOW CLUB AMBASSADOR ALFREDO DI STEFANO 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL OWEN SAYING: "Buenos dias todos. My dad has been telling me about the great Real madrid teams of the sixties. He says Di Stefano and Puskas are two strikers that were just unbelievable, he also says that Gento was the quickest number eleven he has ever seen, and today Im so proud to be wearing his number eleven shirt again. Id like to thank everyone for making me so welcome out here in Madrid: Im back home now for a few days and back again on Thursday. Its been a really nice couple of days and Id like to say a special thank you to Sr President for giving me the opportunity to play for the most - for the best team in the world. Thank you very much, Muchas gracias." 10. OWEN SHAKES HANDS WITH PRESIDENT FLORENTINO PEREZ 11. FANS INSIDE THE BERNADEU STADIUM 12. OWEN POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE PITCH IN NUMBER ELEVEN SHIRT AND WITH FOOTBALL 13. NUMBER 11 ON SHIRT 14. OWEN KICKS BALL AROUND 15. OWEN WAVING TO FANS AND LEAVING PITCH 16. OWEN POSES WITH FAMILY 17. INSIDE REAL MADRID SHOP, NUMBER 11 OWEN SHIRTS ON SALE ALONGSIDE BECKHAMS NUMBER 23 SHIRT Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA4IYQWY3R8TVHCXBBTBWKC9O7M
  • Story Text: Michael Owen is unveiled as a Real Madrid player.




    England striker Michael Owen was officially unveiled
    as a Real Madrid player in a presentation ceremony at the
    club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday.

    The 24-year-old, who completed a whirlwind 12 million
    euro ($14.71 million) move from Liverpool by signing a
    four-year contract, was handed the famous white shirt
    bearing number 11 by the club's former great Alfredo di
    Stefano.

    The number 11 belonged to reserve striker Javier
    Portillo last season but its most illustrious owner was
    another Real Madrid great Paco Gento, the fleet-footed
    Spanish winger who won six European Cups with the club in
    the 1950s and 60s.

    The shirt was once worn by Laurie Cunningham, one of
    the first English players to try their luck in Spain after
    moving from West Bromwich Albion for almost one million
    pounds in 1979.

    A smiling Owen received the shirt from Di Stefano
    before stating his English speech in Spanish.

    "Buenos dias todos. My dad has been telling me about the
    great Real madrid teams of the 1960's. He says Di Stefano
    and Puskas are two strikers that were just unbelievable, he
    also says that Gento was the quickest number eleven he has
    ever seen, and today Im so proud to be wearing his number
    eleven
    shirt again. I'd like to thank everyone for making me so
    welcome out here in Madrid: I'm back home now for a few days and back
    a
    gain on Thursday. It's been a really nice
    couple of days and I'd like to say a special thank you to
    Senor President for giving me the opportunity to play for
    the most - for the best team in the world. Thank you very
    much, Muchas gracias."
    Owen's transfer was completed in record time with the
    striker completing the move that sees him join his England
    captain David Beckham in Madrid just four days after
    reports of a possible deal first surfaced in the British
    media.

    Real recruited Owen, who has an option to extend his
    deal for an extra season, at a knockdown price because the
    player had less than a year to run on his contract and the
    Merseysiders feared losing him for nothing at the end of
    the season.

    Second-string midfielder Antonio Nunez is moving to
    Anfield as part of the deal.

    A former European Footballer of the Year, Owen becomes
    the fourth winner of the award to form part of the present
    Real Madrid side.

    Brazilian striker Ronaldo has been given the honour on
    two occasions, while French midfielder Zinedine Zidane and
    Portuguese winger Luis Figo have each been awarded it once.

    Owen flew in to the Spanish capital in a private jet on
    Friday where he had a medical prior to completing his move.

    Howeer, his reception was far more low key than the one
    given last year to Beckham, whose every move was tracked by
    frenzied reporters and fans.

    Owen was expected to fly out of Madrid shortly after
    the presentation ceremony and hook up with his England team
    mates to prepare for Wednesday's friendly against Ukraine
    in Newcastle.

    He is likely to report for duty at Real on Thursday
    (August 19) when the team will start preparing for the
    second leg of their Champions League qualifier against
    Wisla Krakow.



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