David has the Becks-Factor! Owen relishing facing up to former England team-mate

27 July 2011 07:25
Michael Owen knows the MLS All-Star game will be a special occasion for David Beckham.[LNB]For the second season running, Manchester United provide the opposition for one of the highlights of the footballing year Stateside.[LNB]Owen joined Thierry Henry at the top of the Empire State Building to illuminate one of the world's most famous buildings in the red and green colours of the competing teams.[LNB] Beck in action: The former United legend will face his ex-team-mates[LNB]And Owen knows the entire evening will mean more to Beckham given the decade he spent with the Red Devils before joining Real Madrid in 2003.[LNB]'We are all delighted he is playing,' said Owen. 'It won't be the first time he has played against the lads but the club holds a special affection for him.[LNB]'He is a top player and it is nice to meet up again.'[LNB]Owen and Beckham were Real Madrid team-mates five years ago when the former England striker last came to the States. Then he was allowed to walk down the streets in total obscurity.[LNB]Not so now, with interest in the 11-man football game at an all-time high.[LNB]'We had Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham then,' said Owen. 'Now it just seems to have gone to a new level. We went out to buy presents for the kids on Sunday and it was amazing how many people stopped us in the street.'[LNB] Stateside: Owen and former Arsenal hero Thierry Henry in the build-up to the MLS clash[LNB]Owen may yet have a new team-mate by the start of the new season given United chief executive David Gill has adopted a more optimistic stance than his manager about getting a replacement for Paul Scholes.[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson has repeatedly played down the prospects of bringing in what would almost certainly be a marquee signing given the vacancy exists right in the centre of midfield. However, Gill believes there could still be developments.[LNB]'We are looking at one more player to bring in,' Gill told MUTV. 'There will still be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops.[LNB]'The important point to understand, and Alex has made clear, is that we need someone who is going to improve the quality of the squad.[LNB] Magic moments: Beckham and Owen linked up on many occasions with England[LNB]'We have a great squad and to get into that squad you need to be a world-class player. If you can't get the players you want, there is no point buying someone for the sake of it.[LNB]'But you never know. There is often movement in August. I am not saying I am working on anything specific because I'm not. But that situation could change quickly when we get back to Carrington.'   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEHuff and puff! United striker Berbatov hits back at style criticsUnited will sign one more player this summer, insists GillI'm surprised Rooney has time to play football, says judge at appeal hearingAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion [LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail