Michael Owen to leave Manchester United after club decides not to offer new contract

Former England striker Michael Owen is set to leave Manchester United after revealing he will not be offered a new contract.

The 32-year-old, whose deal expires this summer, has announced via Twitter that the club will not be renewing his terms.

Owen wrote: "The Manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract."

It will bring an end to a three-year spell at Old Trafford marred by injuries.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward joined United on a free transfer in summer 2009 but was unable to reignite his once glittering career.

He made just four appearances in the season just ended and has not played competitively since November due to a thigh injury.

Owen wrote: "I have loved every minute of the 3 years I have spent at such a fantastic club.

"I would like to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish them well for the future.

"I now plan to have a short holiday during which I will contemplate my next move."

Owen's three years at United have been blighted by injury.

The former Liverpool striker, hailed as England's golden boy when he burst onto the scene in 1997, made just 18 starts for the Reds and came off the bench on 34 occasions.

Owen, from Chester, netted 17 times and will perhaps be most fondly remembered by United fans for his first goal at Old Trafford, a trademark close range finish in the sixth minute of injury time which gave the Reds a 4-3 derby victory over Manchester City.

He went on to plunder a hat-trick in a 3-1 Champions League win in Wolfsburg but was ruled out for the rest of the s! eason af ter pulling up in the League Cup Final.

A series of further niggles restricted his appearances the following year but he still managed to pick up a Premier League champions medal and scored in United's victory over Blackpool in the campaign's last outing.

This season a thigh injury sustained in November put him out untilearlier this month when he was named as a substitute for last Sunday's clash with Sunderland.

Owen appeared in 52 matches out of a potential 169 during his three years at the club. That equates to 30.77 per cent.

His goal ratio was a respectable 32.6 per cent although many of his appearances came against clubs from lower leagues in cup competitions.

From the MEN on April 21: 'Unlucky' Michael Owen running out of time to save United career

Tweet