Michael Owen had a dream start to life at Real Madrid in 2004 as he played a key role in the club’s 1-0 win over Mallorca.
Yet the idyllic Spanish island that was once home to such happy memories is about to turn into a self-confessed nightmare for the 42-year-old.
Less than an hour’s drive away from where Owen first played in the famous Madrid shirt at the Estadio Son Moix, his eldest daughter will walk into the infamous Love Island villa tonight.
Speaking to ITV news about Gemma, 19, joining the reality show, he admitted: “It’s probably a father’s worst nightmare.”
But the ex-England striker will have been able to offer some helpful tips to Gemma following his short but successful stint on the island.
For starters, as a Brit abroad, Owen was no stranger to applying the Factor 50 in the 26 degree heat after he was named on the bench for his one and only game against Mallorca.
Then-Madrid boss Jose Antonio Camacho showed where his head was at by coupling up Raul and Ronaldo to lead the attack that day.
However, Raul’s early injury forced Camacho to instead put all his eggs in Owen’s basket in pursuit of avenging a 3-2 defeat suffered during the club’s last trip to the Balearics the season before.
International teammate David Beckham pulled him over for a chat to offer some last minute words of encouragement but that didn’t seem to help.
The £8million signing from Liverpool might have then given Madrid fans the ick after his first touch was a shocking pass to Michel Salgado.
Yet Owen soon acclimatised and, never shy to shoot his shot, almost opened the scoring with a deft header from a Luis Figo delivery just before the break.
As the sun began to set, he then became Ronaldo’s wingman as the Brazil legend chested home Owen’s cross early in the second half.
Owen’s grafting almost led to him making sure of the result with a last-gasp volley only for it to end up in the Love Island villa.
Real Madrid’s decision to ship the forward to Newcastle with a large dose of steak and kidney pie the following summer meant he never had a chance to play Mallorca again.
This time it’s a different Owen set for a Spanish adventure – here’s hoping Gemma’s will have the fairytale ending Michael’s never did…
Source: Talk Sport