Michael Owen: 'Manchester United wanted Karim Benzema'

Michael Owen has admitted that former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign Karim Benzema and not him in 2009.

Armed with £80m from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid that summer, the Red Devils were heavily linked with France international Benzema, then of Lyon.

However, he eventually joined Ronaldo in the Spanish capital, leaving Ferguson to swoop for free agent Owen following his release by Newcastle United.

"I was just saying before the show that he's my favourite player and one of the lads said, 'Why's that?'. It's because Benzema was Manchester United's first choice before I signed for them," he told BT Sport.

"If he didn't say yes to Real Madrid then I wouldn't have been at Man United."

Owen made just 52 appearances during an injury-plagued three-year stint at Old Trafford, from which he scored 17 goals.