JUST over four years after his tearful departure, Robbie Fowler completed an equally emotional return to his spiritual home last night in one of the most remarkable transfers of recent times. It sparked scenes of bewildered joy among the legions of Liverpool supporters who have revered him like the prodigal son.
Out of favour at Manchester City, with no hope of an extension to his £35,000-a-week contract, the former England forward had been expected to go on loan to a Coca-Cola Championship club two weeks ago. Subsequently there were inquiries from Everton and Wigan Athletic, but yesterday came an irresistible opportunity to return to Anfield, initially on a six-month contract, as Rafael Benítez took his board up on a suggestion that the 30-year-old may offer a short-term solution to the European champions’ lack of firepower in attack. A £500,000 deal for Víctor, the Deportivo La Coruña winger, is also in the pipeline.
It is a remarkable change in fortune for Fowler, whose career seemed to be winding down even before he left Liverpool for Leeds United in an £11 million deal in November 2001. The past four years have brought immense frustration, but Benítez has been persuaded that a return to Liverpool could rejuvenate a player who, for all his injury problems, remains perhaps the most instinctive goalscorer in the country.
Fowler is merely delighted to be back. “I’m so happy it’s frightening,” he said last night, still shaking with excitement after signing a contract worth about £20,000 a week. “I can’t believe it’s happened. It hasn’t sunk in yet. If I’m honest, I didn’t ever really believe I would come back. Leaving was probably one of my biggest regrets I have had in football.
“Liverpool have always been close to my heart. I grew up supporting the other side [Everton], but ever since I was at Liverpool aged 11, I grew very close to everyone involved at the club. Just to put on that red shirt again will be an amazing feeling. This club is close to my heart.”
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Fowler will have to wait a little longer for that privilege. He is ineligible for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth-round tie away to Portsmouth, having already played in the competition for City, scoring a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in his only full appearance of the season. He will hope to make a playing return against Birmingham City in the Barclays Premiership at Anfield on Wednesday.
Benítez had to be convinced of the merits of signing a player whose iconic status may have been lost on a Spaniard who has been on Merseyside for less than two years, but the manager seemed to have been sold on the idea by last night.
“We’ve signed a player with so much passion for this club,” Benítez said. “He will act as an example to every player here in how much he loves Liverpool. It’s a boost for the team, a boost for the fans and a boost for Robbie. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player quite so happy to be joining a club.”
Fowler’s delight is hardly surprising. He trained at City yesterday morning, having heard that there might be some basis to the rumours that have swept Merseyside for the past three weeks, but it was only afterwards that his agent, George Scott, told him that his dreams were about to come true.
Scott spoke to Stuart Pearce, the City manager, who said that he “could not stand in Robbie’s way”. The only stipulation is that he cannot play against City at Anfield on February 26.
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Liverpool are also close to securing a deal for Víctor, 28, who operates on the right-hand side for Deportivo, but that deal, although perhaps more significant in the longer term, pales next to Fowler’s return.
There was disappointment on the Kop in August when Benítez opted against re-signing Michael Owen, who joined Newcastle United from Real Madrid instead, but the second coming of the man they call “God” comes as a most unexpected consolation.