ANDY CARROLL wanted to FAIL his medical before signing for Liverpool on transfer deadline day.
The year was 2011 and the Reds were in the process of selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50m.
Liverpool needed a replacement up front and turned their attention to Carroll, who was in fine form for Newcastle.
And as Torres completed his switch to Stamford Bridge, Carroll moved to Anfield for £35m.
But in an interview with L’Équipe, he reflected: “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.
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“This helped me grow up by taking me out of my comfort zone. Because I knew nothing about life and football, apart from Newcastle.“
Carroll struggled in Merseyside and managed just 11 goals in 58 games before moving to West Ham after just two seasons with Liverpool.
The England international would struggle with injuries over the years and he now plays his football in France's second division for Amiens.
Carroll, now 34, did return to St James Park in 2019 but he only scored two league goals before leaving two years later.
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He said: "Nothing happened as I hoped it would.
“The team wasn’t playing well, I wasn’t featuring much and, because of the pandemic.
"We played games in an empty St James’ Park, which was sad because the club draws all its strength from the fans.”
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