Kevin Mirallas, who retired in September, has been telling Belgian media how he didn't want to come to Everton back in 2012, when he was signed by David Moyes for £5.3m.
“When I signed in England I didn’t want to go there,” he said.
“I felt really good at Olympiakos, I felt good at the football level, at the family level as my son had just been born so there was stability. My agent really pushed it. I don’t regret it because it was one of my best spells, I spent seven years there, but I didn’t want to go.
“I felt really good, my life was really good, there was a quality of life behind it and in England I had to start all over again. The day I left Olympiakos I cried; I didn’t want to leave.
“I arrived at Everton in August it was 14 degrees, raining, I went ‘wow’. I left ten days after my son was born. I didn’t want to go there but then I saw the training centre and I said, ‘it’s good, it’s structured’.
“In England it was great, the stadium all that. The coach, David Moyes, wanted me to have everything prepared, I had a magnificent welcome and was well compensated but, in my head, I wasn’t prepared.
“Then I got injured and in October I phoned my agent and said I want to leave. He tells me I signed for five years but I say ‘do what you want but I don’t want to stay’. He says to me ‘you’re crazy, everyone wants to be in your place’ but I just said, ‘call those in charge, I don’t want to stay’.”
Reader Comments (22)
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2 Posted 09/11/2023 at 17:25:32
He said that if I waited until 20 mins before kick off I would see Mirallas arrive in. Then he shook his head and said that he was the only player to do that. Often wondered if that was true.
3 Posted 09/11/2023 at 17:56:10
Very surprised he never got snaffled by a challenging club he had enough about him to play at a higher level and it puzzled me the lukewarm reception he got from some Evertonians. A couple more like him would have transformed us.
4 Posted 10/11/2023 at 02:16:42
5 Posted 10/11/2023 at 06:23:59
Like we say with so many others, he just wasn't the same after that.
6 Posted 10/11/2023 at 06:57:17
Near the end, he seemed to have a tad too much of the gold Bentley syndrome.
7 Posted 10/11/2023 at 07:41:46
Selfish? Arrogant? (All good strikers are!) But he knew where the goal was. back in the days when we had someone who could score from a free-kick, or wasn't a centre-forward.
I do, I really do wish we had someone of that ilk now...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFIBhX3Eqc8
8 Posted 10/11/2023 at 07:51:50
Part of me questions the player's desire.
But reading between the lines, is this a classic example of agents and clubs dictating? I know it is a feature of the modern game and that we could argue the player was in his comfort zone and would rather have stayed where he was.
If we look deeper, is it different to Alan Ball who apparently didn't want to leave but ultimately didn't have a choice. Duncan Ferguson's move to Newcastle? We recently had Rooney say that he had no burning desire to leave Everton, but was told he was being sold to Chelsea. So he chose his own destiny. Who can blame him?
It's very easy in the raw heat of the moment for us supporters to blame the player, but more often than not, it's the club and agents who pull the strings and make the decisions.
Back on topic and to Mirallas. He had his moments where he pleased the crowd, but could equally frustrate.
What is it about Belgium players? They all seem continuously restless. Especially when they go away with the national team.
9 Posted 10/11/2023 at 08:47:37
Despite that one is still a good friend!
10 Posted 10/11/2023 at 08:48:14
Unfortunately he wasn't... we didn't.
11 Posted 10/11/2023 at 09:34:18
I don't miss these type of players that's for sure, in love with himself.
12 Posted 11/11/2023 at 21:36:49
He played in some good Everton years, He always had the potential of doing something spesial.
13 Posted 12/11/2023 at 07:02:38
But for some reason, he never was and was a deadwood and a money-stealer until he did go.
14 Posted 14/11/2023 at 12:20:11
I thought it was pretty disrespectful towards Martinez, and kind of summed up the attitude of both the players. Both hugely talented who thought they were too good for Everton, but their careers stalled after leaving the club.
15 Posted 14/11/2023 at 12:27:19
He won the league and player of the year with Inter...
16 Posted 15/11/2023 at 21:48:01
I thought the pair were pretty respectful given that they managed to limit themselves to merely sniggering...
17 Posted 15/11/2023 at 21:53:26
Sure he had some bright moments but far to few and then injuries became an excuse. Did have a few decent games alongside Lukaku.
18 Posted 17/11/2023 at 09:04:57
Hated him. Snider waster who occasionally scored goals and then basked in the glory for 3 games. I can't even believe I'm wasting time writing about him…
19 Posted 17/11/2023 at 10:10:17
Always amazes me who they are so conceited you wouldnt think they contributed to losing games, must be there team mates who are to blame.
20 Posted 17/11/2023 at 10:31:45
21 Posted 17/11/2023 at 10:46:09
22 Posted 18/11/2023 at 05:27:41
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1 Posted 09/11/2023 at 17:07:21
Grabbing the ball from Baines for that missed penalty was the start of some very sour times. I don't know if the dressing room was split before then, but it certainly was afterwards.