"It’s the little things," he explains, "like seeing my name on an England squad with Real Madrid as the club beside my name. I’m sure that kind of thing won’t wear off for a while."

It’s a move that has captured the imagination of the football world, not least because of the image some people held of Michael as a home-loving kind of person.

"That’s why I’m happy that I’ve taken this step," he says, accepting the point. "I’ve broken out to find a new way, and I’m sure it will be the right way.

"It was obviously hard to leave Liverpool and I certainly couldn’t have seen myself joining another English club from Liverpool, but to move to Real Madrid is obviously a dream come true.

"I’m going to be mixing it with some of the very best players in the world. But I’m ready for that challenge.

"I expect to be the main goal-scorer in any team that I play in. That is what I am in the team for, but I think this move will help me develop as both a player and a person."

Being based in Spain will also mean that, more then ever, Michael will relish meeting up with England.

"Coming back and playing with England will take on an extra significance," he says. "It’s going to be my best way of keeping in touch with what’s happening and I’ll enjoy speaking to people in my own language.

"I haven’t really had a chance to say my proper goodbyes to everyone at Liverpool yet. I sent them a fax before the Spurs game but it’s been good speaking with Carra, Stevie and Chris Kirkland to find out everything that’s been happening."

Sven has told TheFA.com that he believes Michael’s Madrid move is an excellent step for his striker to take and Michael is clearly appreciative of the relationship he’s built up with the Swede.

"He is definitely the England manager that I have had the best relationship with," explains Michael. "He makes the decisions but if there’s an area that he wants to talk to us about, he’s not afraid to consult the players.

"No one inside the England camp under-estimates Sven but I think maybe a few people outside the camp might do. They aren’t aware of the things he says and does and the way he creates a real feel-good factor in the squad.

"People ask why he isn’t more animated but I’m sure if he started running up and down the touchline the same people would think he’d lost his marbles! Managers have different styles, that is football."

Now Sven, Michael and the entire England squad have their sights firmly fixed on the pursuit of glory in Germany two years from now. And don’t forget Michael hasn’t got a bad record on German soil.

"Yes, that night we had in Munich has crossed my mind and I’m sure it will do so even more if we can get to the finals themselves," he says. "Everything is set-up for us in Germany. The weather will be like we are used to, there will not be a great time difference and our players will be coming to their very peak.

"I can remember thinking at the 2002 World Cup that this squad was going to be one to keep an eye on for the 2006 World Cup and I stand by that.

"The World Cup is the thing in football. No matter how much I wanted to win the European Championship, if you had asked me what would I rather win, that or the World Cup, it would be the World Cup every time."

Before all that though, Michael has a new life and career to begin in Spain and there is one man he’s very eager to talk to.

"Becks called me when he heard what was happening and I had a good chat to him them," says Michael. "But now everything’s sorted, I’ll be pestering him even more to find out about everything I need to know!"