Andy Carroll’s second spell with Newcastle United was nothing like his first.
When he emerged from the Newcastle United academy, he was the next big thing. Andy Carroll was exceptional in the Championship, and he quickly looked comfortable in the Premier League too.
He was unfazed by wearing the famous number nine shirt. If anything, he thrived under the pressure.
However, Carroll’s form for Newcastle United in the 2010/11 season caught the eye of Liverpool. After scoring 11 goals in 19 games for the Magpies, Liverpool decided to splash out and bring Carroll to Anfield for £35million.
It was heartbreaking to see him go, which is why there was so much joy when Carroll returned to St James’ Park on a free transfer in 2019.
Steve Bruce brought Carroll back home, and the former England international has now revealed that he thought he was going to end his career at Newcastle United after re-signing for the club.
Andy Carroll reveals Newcastle United heartache in 2021
During an interview with the Athletic, Carroll has spoken about his departure from Newcastle United.
After returning in 2019, he was released by the club in 2021. His second spell at Newcastle ended with one goal in 43 appearances.
It was reported that Carroll had wanted to stay at Newcastle, and he has now told the Athletic that he actually thought he would never leave his boyhood club.
“I’d always wanted to go back and, once I did, I thought, ‘This is me now, I’ll be here until I’m 35 and that’ll be me done’,” he said.
“I was gutted when I didn’t get another contract (in the summer of 2021), or even a phone call. At that point, I thought: ‘Do I just call it here? Do I finish playing now?’.
“A lot of people fall out of love with the game and that’s where I found myself after Newcastle. But when I signed for Reading (in November 2021), I realised retirement is not what I wanted.
“I was just like: ‘No, why am I even thinking that? That’s completely not what I want.’ I want to play, I want to enjoy football, and I still do. I’ve got plenty of time to sit at home with my feet up.”
Where Andy Carroll is playing now
Carroll contemplated retirement when he was released by Newcastle United three years ago. He has since gone on to play for Reading twice, West Brom, Amiens and Bordeaux.
The 35-year-old is now plying his trade in the fourth tier of French football, with Carroll signing for Bordeaux in September.
The forward appears to be loving life at his new club, with Carroll boasting a record of five goals in three games.
It is great to see him scoring again, and it remains a shame that his second spell with Newcastle was nothing like his first.
It was amazing to see him return, but the comeback did not pan out as he expected. Carroll had hoped to still be at Newcastle right now, but his dreams were shattered when a new contract did not come his way.
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