Nigerian International and Super Eagles striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie said his attempt to force a transfer from West Brom to Queens Park Rangers on the transfer deadline of 2013 was regreatable.
In what has become arguably the most famous transfer deal never to be completed, Osaze now with Stoke City drove drove the 120 miles from Birmingham to London in an attempt to speed up a late move to QPR.
The striker was seen signing autographs outside of Loftus Road and was also interviewed by Sky Sports News, telling reporters from his car that he was ready for “a new chapter”. But the move couldn’t be completed before the 11pm transfer deadline, with then QPR manager Harry Redknapp claiming “wires got crossed”, leaving the striker having to make the trip back to re-join the West Brom team-mates he’d already said goodbye to.
Reflecting on that evening three years on, Odemwingie told Sky Sports News HQ: “I didn’t even know what to think; I was laughing and almost crying at the same time! I believed it was done, I had nothing to hide.
“When the cameras came, I didn’t feel awkward to say ‘yes, this is where we are’. Unless you see it on paper nothing is done, so that’s why I said it’s a 90 per cent done deal.
“They (West Brom players) were confused a bit and they knew I believed the deal was done. But then it was tough of course with the fans.
“(After the move collapsed) I said I’m going to play a song from Akon, Lonely, and drive home. I wish it all didn’t happen, but that’s life.”
He didn’t start another game for West Brom and was disciplined by the club for acting “wholly unprofessionally”, making just seven further substitute appearances before making a Deadline Day switch to Cardiff City in September.