Belgian journalist Filip Joos has made an eyebrow-raising claim over former Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
The Belgium international made the switch to Merseyside back in 2008 from Standard Liege for what was then a club-record fee paid for a player by the Blues.
The Toffees fought off a number of high-profile suitors to procure Fellaini’s services; the likes of Real Madrid, Spurs and Manchester United were just a handful of European giants interested in the midfielder.
The £15m deadline day signing ended up playing a major part in then-manager David Moyes’ plans, making 177 appearances and scoring 33 goals in all competitions before following Moyes to Old Trafford when he took up the Manchester United job in 2013.
Despite enjoying what the Liverpool Echo described as a ‘strong relationship’ with Everton fans – a relationship which ardent Toffees may remember fondly – Joos’ claims threw up a surprising revelation about the transfer 12 years ago.
In recent revelations offered to the MIDMID podcast via Sport Witness, it turns out that Fellaini was blissfully unaware that Everton were 16th in the Premier League at his time of signing and that the Belgian was about to enter a relegation scrap. Joos outlined:
I remember meeting Marouane Fellaini in 2008 at Zaventem airport. He had just signed his contract with Everton FC. The English had paid twenty million euros for him to Standard.
I added that it (luck) would be necessary. Everton was only in 16th place in the Premier League at the time.
Fellaini looked at me with wide eyes and asked me if I was serious. He had just signed a contract with a new club but hadn’t looked at the standings. The numbers may have spoken for themselves.
Fortunately, Everton turned their form around and finished fifth that season, qualifying for Europe partly thanks to Fellaini’s efforts.
Read Everton Verdict
This amusing tale offers plenty of positives.
Above all, it shows that Everton’s recruitment department at the time were both competitive and persuasive in fending off competition for Fellaini’s signature, whilst also researching and securing a player who went on to make a significant impact at Goodison Park.
