Even though it is the close season for most of European Football ( soccer ) I still can’t get enough news. I can’t wait until the new season kicks off in less than a month.

I’m a Man City fan – the wealthiest club in the world, and they’ve been doing their best this summer to spend some of the billions at their disposal. They’ve signed 80 million UKP on just four very strong players, and are chasing a few more. Real Madrid spent the same amount of money on just one player – Christiano Ronaldo.

However,  it isn’t those stories that have moved me the most. The story that makes me smile is the story of Michael Owen getting a new chance to play for a world class team when many had written him off.

I’m not quite sure what it is about this story – but I really want Owen to succeed, and prove the skeptics wrong. I want to see him win a premier league title, and force a place in the world cup. I think that would be the sign of a remarkable player, and a remarkable person. Regardless of the footballing talent, I think I’m moved most by his nerve, and the recognition Alex Ferguson has of his capabilities.

For me, his story outweighs the stories of huge financial deals. For me his story is all about the talent he has, and the work he has put in. He faced a difficult professional time at Newcastle, and carried a disproportionate share of the blame for the shambles there. I like what he says in this article. I predict he’ll be high up the scoring charts in May.