[lfc-news] Owen accepts pay cut to seal £8m move - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 13 Aug 2004
Owen accepts pay cut to seal £8m move
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFAEL Benitez has confirmed Michael Owen's £8m transfer to real Madrid,
with midfielder Antonio Nunez heading to Liverpool.

Benitez said: "We must wait until the contracts are finished but Michael
will go for a medical and we will do the same with Nunez. Next week,
Michael will be with Madrid and Nunez here.

"The problem is he is one year from the end of his contract. Real know that
and they spoke to his agent.

"I spoke to Michael in private last week and he was happy. The problem is a
big club has come in and we had no control of the situation."

Now Benitez is desperately trying to push through the signing of Xabi
Alonso, especially since Patrick Vieira's move to Madrid has collapsed.

The Spanish giants have a long-term interest in Alonso and are preparing to
switch their interest back to the Real Sociedad midfielder.

Liverpool have agreed a £10.5m deal in principle to sign the 22-year-old
and will be hoping Madrid don't force him into a u-turn.

Under the terms of Owen's contract being rubber-stamped this afternoon,
he's been offered less than the Reds were prepared to offer in the deal
they tabled to the striker's representatives.

Madrid have agreed to pay Owen 80,000 euros a week, which translates to
around £56,000.

Had Owen stayed at Anfield, a two-year extension to his current terms would
have seen his salary extend beyond the £70,000 a week mark.

In addition, Madrid will take control of Owen's image rights which offer
lucrative profits in regions such as Asia.

These aspects of the deal confirm Owen's motivation for leaving is solely
for footballing rather than financial reasons.

The Owen saga has overshadowed preparations for the Premiership kickoff at
Spurs tomorrow.

Benitez's squads heads to London tonight, with Igor Biscan welcomed back to
the fold after his midweek suspension.


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