Phones: not just for heavy breathing

Owen gets the 'heads up' about Man Utd from ex-teammate

Michael Owen has revealed that former team-mate, Nicky Butt, tipped him off about Sir Alex’s interest in signing him. Using the considerable resources at our disposal, Toepoke managed to uncover the actual tape-script of that phone conversation.


Nicky Butt: “Hello Michael, it’s Nicky Butt here”.

Michael Owen: “Who?”

NB: “Nicky Butt, we played for Newcastle together.”

MO: “When? I don’t recall playing for them.”

NB: “We played for England together, remember?”

MO: “Yes, I played for England! I scored a great goal against Argentina. Everybody said I was great, that I was the future of English football. I got the ball and then I ran really fast and beat loads of men and…”

NB: “Er, that’s great Michael but I need to go to training. I just wanted to have a quick chat.”

MO: “I’ve got Phil Brown on the other line, can you call me later?”

NB: “It’s just that I have some info for you, I think Man Utd might want to sign you.”

MO: “Phil hi, thanks for the offer but at this point in my career… never mind. (Click) Go on Butty, me old buddy, me old pal.”

NB: “Well, the Gaffer, Sir Alex, well, he’s not really my gaffer now but he still is…sort of. Anyway, he asked me about you, if you are a good trainer and stuff like that.”

MO: “I am a great trainer, did you tell him? Everyday I’m doing shuttle runs in the back garden and the wife times me, she said I am still dead fast, maybe not as fast as 1998 but I told her to shut it, I mean, who does she think she is! Besides, I think the watch she was using might have been brok…”

NB: “Michael! I need to go but I told the gaffer that you were decent, so maybe expect a call soon, ok? Anyway, I’m off, we are getting our picture taken today in the Newcastle away top, I hope it looks cool. And don’t tell the gaffer I told you about this, he might not let me go to the pictures with the wife next week.”

MO: “Thanks Nicky, you’re my best friend in football. Do you want to come round to my house tonight? We could watch the dvd of the 2001 FA Cup, I scored two goals you know. People said I was great! Nicky, are you there? We can play FIFA on the computer, the 1998 version, that’s the best one. Nicky…? Nicky…?”