Failed transfers are never ideal for either party, and they can certainly be irksome. However, for Fulham, the collapse of Norwegian striker John Carew's transfer from Valencia in January 2002 probably proved to be the most stress-inducing and harrowing ordeal they have conducted in the top-flight. It's not often that a club is sued for not signing a player, but that is exactly what happened in the summer of 2002, with the Spanish club claiming that Fulham had damaged Carew's reputation and value in the transfer market by alleging that he had a weak right knee. With Carew having been poised to join the Cottagers on a four-year contract in January, Valencia were furious at Fulham's reasons for why the move broke down, and demanded FIFA to seek £8.5 million in compensation. With a French sports injury specialist having cleared Carew as fit for transfer, Valencia felt they had grounds for complaint. In June 2003, Fulham were ordered to pay the Spanish club £500,000 as a result of the 6ft 5in Norwegian's botched transfer. As for Carew himself, he certainly wasn't best pleased with Fulham's decision to leave him in Spain.
''The English teams know that they were mistaken and they will be very sorry not to have contracted me, because I am worthy of playing in the Premiership.'' - John Carew, November 2002.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
