Hailed as one of the best buys in the history of football (possibly a tad over the top), Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba was actually considering leaving the UK because of homesickness and a fear of the Lancashire climate.

Thankfully, Samba came out fighting. He said: “I just remember the storms were so bad, the roof was falling down, and all the electricity went off; there was no light in the room, no TV, nothing,” said the giant defender.

“It was freezing cold and all I wanted to do was go home, because I’d had enough.

“The training had been going well so I was surprised when they asked me to play a game with the reserves at the end of the week.

“At first, I said I didn’t want to do that, because I felt they had already seen what I could do.

“But my agent convinced me to stay and play in the game and now, obviously, after the way things have worked out, I am glad I did.”