The 23-year-old has received some criticism this year as the Reds have fallen out of the Premiership title race, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, but has returned to form in recent weeks.

“I have been at Liverpool since I was 11 years old so something different would be a surprise,” he said.

Owen, quoted in sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport today, has been linked with the big Italian clubs since his fantastic World Cup in France five years ago.

“I am well here (at Liverpool), although it is true that in life you can never say never.

“In Italy you have a more intelligent football, based on tactical attention, where you cannot allow any distraction, looking at the results maybe the Spanish teams have been able to find an intermediate line.

“The ideal championship would be an intermediate line between the English and Italian (leagues).”

Italian club football has enjoyed a recovery this season. No Italian club has captured Europe’s top prize since Juventus beat Ajax on penalties in the 1996 European Cup but three sides – Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus – are in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition.

Lazio are also in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.

Owen was keen to stress that English football does not take a backseat to Serie A, however.

“We have a spectacular tournament (the Premiership); technical, with speed and many goal opportunities, people have fun and so do the players,” he said.

Owen also spoke fondly of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who coached in Italy before taking the England national team reins.

Since England’s 3-1 friendly defeat by Australia in London last month, Eriksson has faced intense media scrutiny.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter even waded in this week by describing the game as a farce.

“I care about him (Eriksson),” Owen said. “We had a bad World Cup but now we hope that he takes us to Portugal.

“If we win the European Championship no one can take him away from the English bench. I hope he (Sven) continues for a long time.”