Joining Liverpool on a club-record transfer is the stuff of dreams for most footballers.
But for Andy Carroll, it was a nightmare.
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The 34-year-old, now plying his trade in France’s second-tier with Amiens, was one of the breakout stars of the 2010/11 season.
After helping Newcastle win the Championship in the previous campaign, the striker had banged in 11 goals in 19 top-flight matches.
He suddenly found himself on Liverpool‘s radar on deadline day in January which saw the Reds sell Fernando Torres to Chelsea for a then-British record £50million.
Liverpool acted fast by bringing in Luis Suarez from Ajax, while also having a then-club record £35m bid accepted by the Magpies for Carroll.
Carroll suddenly found himself whisked away to Merseyside, but the nine-cap England international says he was hoping he would fail his medical at Melwood. However, he is happy with the life experience the move resulted in.
Speaking to L’Equipe, he said: “From the moment Liverpool made this incredible bid on deadline day, I found myself in a helicopter, without really understanding why.
“As I was injured, I remember hoping to fail my medical.
“This helped me grow up by taking me out of my comfort zone because I knew nothing about life and football, apart from Newcastle.”
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Carroll ultimately struggled at Liverpool – despite winning the League Cup in 2012 along with scoring in the 2012 FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea.
It was one of 11 goals the towering centre-forward scored for the club in 58 games in all competitions.
After struggling for consistency, he was sold to West Ham in 2013 for £15m, before he eventually returned to St James’ Park in 2019 – managing just one goal in 43 outings.
Having dropped down in the Championship to represent Reading and West Brom, before playing in League One with the former, Carroll made the move to Ligue 2 to join Amiens this summer.
Though he is without a goal in five Ligue 2 outings, with his new side sitting ninth in the table.
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