by ivor_the_injun » Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:05 pm
All this "a good source" and "speculation's mounting" is the kind of thing that keeps rags like the Sun afloat, but there really shouldn't be any place for it here.
As far as I can tell, all that's happened is that talks have hit a stumbling block. This stumbling block is almost certainly related to the fact that the ball has been in his court for so long, and suddenly negotiations are at a stage where he has to commit one way or the other. If he signs prior to the GAK game, he will probably get a better deal than if he waits until after the GAK game, when his stock price will plummet in the event that he does play some part in the match.
It's really as simple as that. Barcelona and Real may well be keeping a close eye on matters, but I'm sure he won't have met officials from either. If he plays tomorrow, I expect this'll be on the back of some kind of agreement in principle related to his contract, and their interest will end.
If he doesn't play tomorrow however, this story will probably run for another couple of weeks or so. People are reading far too much into this, however, and I'm positive that he's going nowhere. Let's face it, one of the biggest names in world football is still to sign a contract extension - it's inevitable that this may be of interest to clubs on the continent. It'd be an insult to Owen if it wasn't.