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United gamble on Owen

Author: Rose Young
Date: 12/07/2009

Michael Owen's transfer to Manchester United is the surprise of the summer transfer market so far.

So why has Sir Alex Ferguson decided to take a chance on a player who most observers had written off after four injury-plagued seasons at Newcastle United?

The move had been met with further incredulity by fans and pundits as United have £80million burning a hole in their pockets following the world-record sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

Carlos Tevez has also left Old Trafford after snubbing the chance to make his loan stay into a permanent transfer as the Argentina striker didn't feel wanted.

The departure of the star duo leaves the online betting favourites to retain their Premier League title, needing to plug a 41-goal gap in their strikeforce next season.

Main transfer targets Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery look to have slipped through Ferguson's grasp on their way to Madrid to further rub salt into the wounds.

But if Owen can stay injury-free, it's surely fair to suggest that he could prove to be a good signing for the Red Devils.

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For a start the 29-year-old has not cost a penny in terms of a transfer fee as he was out of contract at Newcastle United.

According to reports, he is also on a minimal basic wage at Old Trafford with bonus clauses kicking in only if he plays a certain amount of games and more importantly scores goals.

In terms of business sense then - and don't forget United are a club in hundreds of millions of pounds of debt following the Glazer takeover - the deal appears to be a sound one.

In terms of nationality, Owen also appears to fit the bill as all teams competing in the Champions League must have a quota of homegrown players in their squads.

Englishman Owen certainly fits the bill there and, with further suggestions that the Premier League is considering adopting a similar policy, his arrival could yet prove a canny one.

Then there is the small matter of motivation for a player who has clearly been lacking it during four frustrating seasons in and out of the treatment room at St James' Park.

Owen has lost his place in Fabio Capello's England squad after failing to convince the Italian that he has what it takes to make an impact at international level.

But at Old Trafford and alongside first-choice England striker Wayne Rooney, Owen surely has every incentive needed to play his way back into contention in what will be a World Cup season.

With the carrot of a place on the plane to South Africa next summer dangled in front of him, Owen could well silence his doubters with a career-defining season.

And few people would enjoy the career turnaround more than Ferguson - the man who is not afraid to put his reputation on the line for a player who he believes in.

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