December 25th 2024.
Liverpool made a bold move in breaking their transfer record to bring Andy Carroll to Anfield. However, it may come as a surprise to know that the former England international was not initially on board with the idea of switching clubs. Carroll, who made his debut for his hometown club Newcastle at the young age of 17, quickly caught the attention of many with his signature long ponytail and raw physical abilities.
Despite scoring his first goal for the club a few seasons later, Carroll's prominence within Newcastle's squad grew in the 2008-09 season as The Magpies faced relegation from the top flight. However, he continued to gain confidence and was a crucial part of the team that won the Championship and earned promotion back to the Premier League the following year. This success led to Carroll being given the club's number nine shirt, and his profile continued to rise after a fantastic start to the 2010-11 season, where he scored 11 goals in his first 19 Premier League games.
His impressive goalscoring record caught the attention of big clubs, and following a chaotic January transfer window that saw Liverpool lose Fernando Torres to Chelsea, they swiftly signed Carroll for a whopping £35 million on deadline day. This deal also saw the arrival of Luis Suarez from Ajax for a mere £22.7 million. However, while Suarez went on to become one of the club's best-ever strikers, Carroll's time at Liverpool was met with disappointment.
In his two years at the club, Carroll only managed to score 11 goals in 58 games in all competitions. Eventually, he joined West Ham on loan in 2012 and made the move permanent the following season for around £15 million. Since then, Carroll's career has taken him to various clubs, including a return to Newcastle, as well as stints at West Brom, Reading, and Amiens. He currently plays for Bordeaux in the French fourth tier.
Reflecting on his move to Liverpool, Carroll admitted that it was a shock to everyone, including himself. "I had just bought my dream house in Newcastle and was about to sign a new contract when everything changed," he recalled in an interview with the Daily Mail. "I didn't really want to leave, but I was being told that I had to. It was all over the news, and my phone was ringing off the hook with calls from my parents and friends. I didn't even have time to pack; I had to leave in less than an hour."
Carroll also shared his hope that he would fail his medical, which would prevent the deal from going through. "I remember thinking, 'I hope I fail the medical exam' because I wanted to stay at Newcastle," he told L'Equipe. Despite his initial reservations and the unfortunate turn of events in his Liverpool career, Carroll insists that he wouldn't change a thing. "Would I rather have stayed at Newcastle? Of course, it's my hometown club," he said in an interview with the Athletic. "But I don't regret going to Liverpool; it made me who I am today and made me stronger. I wouldn't change anything."
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