Michael Owen moved to Real Madrid to continue his quest to become one of the best footballers in the world.
A number of reasons have been put forward as to why Owen decided to up sticks and swap Merseyside for Madrid, but he has revealed that the main factor was ambition.
Owen had been at Anfield since he was 13 and felt that he needed a change in order to push himself on to achieve his ultimate ambition.
The England marksman wants to be one of the world's best, and believes that battling with Ronaldo, Raul and Fernando Morientes to get into the Real team will put him right up there.
Owen says that breaking his long links with Anfield and moving to a foreign country with one of the biggest clubs in the world was a challenge he needed to take on.
"I had ten days to make up my mind and, for eight of them, I felt the drive to better myself as a person and player," Owen told The Times.
"I gave 100 percent in every game for Liverpool but, when you have been somewhere for 13 years, maybe it all comes too naturally.
"It is the same route to work every morning, the same faces and you are top goalscorer every season. You are not reaching for that extra yard from yourself and it is not for the want of trying.
"Now, I'm certainly going to have to stretch myself."
Owen says that money never came into the equation and, contrary to some reports, he would have been happy to stay had Real not been his destination.
"Money never came into it, just pure ambition. I never had any problems with Rafael Benitez and, if the transfer had broken down, I was ready to resume my career at Anfield.
"I said to the club that I wanted them to get a fee. If I was disloyal, I'd have gone on a Bosman next summer."
Owen is not one to seek the limelight, but he will find it hard to keep his privacy now he is one of Real's superstars.
He is not yet comfortable with being one of the 'Galacticos' at Real, but hopes his displays on the pitch will help him come to terms with his new status - even if it means spending some time on the bench.
"As for being a Galactico, I blush when I hear the word. I am not going to call myself one, but I wouldn't mind if other people start calling me that in a month or two because of my performances on the field.
"I expect I'll have to sit on the bench once or twice, but so will everyone. It is a challenge but that is why I came here."
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas has hailed Real Madrid's signing of Michael Owen as 'very positive'.
Casillas insists Owen is amongst the very best strikers in world football and will serve to strengthen Real's plethora of attacking options yet further.
"The arrival of Owen is very positive," the Spain international custodian stated.
"At international level everyone knows him, he is one of the best strikers in Europe, and certainly the world as well.
"He is going to create more competition up front where there are now four players (Owen, Ronaldo, Raul and Fernando Morientes).
"Any of the four could be left out, it would be sin though!
"All of them will want to do well in every game."
Casillas also welcomed the latest English recruit Jonathan Woodgate, acknowledging Real's backline needed reinforcing.
"I suppose signing someone specifically for the backline will improve our defence," he continued.
"The players that are brought in, if they fit in well, are very welcome in the team.
"Signing new players is about balancing or improving the team. If the club have signed him (Woodgate) it will be for a reason."
