Andy Carroll says Newcastle forced him out for the money

With that Fernando Torres money burning a hole in their pocket before it even got there, Liverpool made Andy Carroll the most expensive British player ever, just three months after he signed a new-five year deal with Newcastle. So why did Carroll want to leave his beloved hometown club? Well, according to the texts he sent the editor of the Toon Talk fanzine as he completed the 35 million deal, he didn't.

From The Mirror (and the Independent):

In a series of texts as the clubs did the deal, he toldfanzine editor Steve Wraith: They have kind of said we dont want u, but wantme to say I wanna go. And I said I dont wanna go.

Asked what was going on, Carroll replied: I dont knowmate. Gutted tho. They said they wanted the money. Gutted to be leaving my homeclub but I was practically told to go. Dont want to leave. Thats why I signedfive-year deal.

It was reported that Carroll put in a transfer request on Monday, "forcing" Newcastle to sell him for that giant bag of money, but this is starting to look like a ploy to sell the move to devastated Newcastle fans as reviled club owner Mike Ashley pockets the dough. And that sounds mighty similar to how Sunderland had to sell Darren Bent when he put in his request so Aston Villa could give his former club a slightly less giant sack of cash. Either these clubs don't know how to say no to footballers or they want to cash in without the fans! stormin g the boardroom.

And if that isn't bad enough, take a look at who graces the month of February in the official Newcastle United calendar...

Ouch.

Top photo: LiverpoolFC.tv