• Premier League

Carroll claims he was forced out of Newcastle

ESPNsoccernet staff
February 1, 2011
Andy Carroll signed for Liverpool for £35 million on transfer deadline day © PA Photos
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Andy Carroll has insisted he was forced to hand in a transfer request and sign for Liverpool and was happy at Newcastle United.

News broke of Carroll's anger on Monday evening when the editor of Newcastle United fanzine Toon Talk, Steve Wraith, published a text message conversation with Carroll with the striker clearly saying he did not want to leave the club.

Magpies manager Alan Pardew then rejected those claims, insisting that no one was sold against their will, but Carroll will not back down.

Carroll told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on Tuesday: "[Managing director] Derek [Llambias] asked me to hand in a transfer request, so I was pushed into a corner and had no choice. I wasn't wanted by them and they made it clear they wanted the money.

"Then I flew down in [owner Mike Ashley's] helicopter. I didn't want to leave. I'm gutted that I wasn't wanted at my home team after everything I have done and the progress I have made. I didn't want to leave at all. Make sure they know I didn't want to leave. The players, staff and fans were fantastic.''

At 2.37pm GMT on Monday, Carroll told Wraith he was "not going anywhere", but by 5pm Carroll had said: "They have kind of said we don't want u but want me to say I wanna go. And I said I don't want to go."

Newcastle claimed that they accepted Liverpool's £35 million offer after the striker handed in a transfer request, but Carroll said: "No I didn't that's what I mean that's what they wanted me to do and I said no. They said they wanted to accept it."

Asked if he had no choice but to move to Anfield, he replied: "Looks like it."

Wraith then asked Carroll if he had "any message you want put across to the fans?" Carroll replied: "They said they wanted the money. Gutted to be leaving Newcastle but I was kind of pushed out the door. Gutted to be leaving my home club but I was practically told to go. Didn't want to leave that's why i signed a five-year deal."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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