Everton have announced the signing of Napoli midfielder and Brazilian international Allan for a fee reported to be €25 million with €3 million in add ons. This transfer has been rumoured to be in the works for the past few weeks and has finally been completed to the enjoyment of Everton supporters who have been wanting reinforcements in the midfield to be a priority in this transfer window.
The underwhelming midfield performances at Everton will have certainly been one of the main reasons why Carlo Ancelotti targeted Allan as he is a tenacious, tireless, hard as nails Brazilian who can improve Everton’s performances. Of course, Ancelotti knew all of this when he was the manager of Napoli.
Allan was one of the most used players making 61 appearances whilst under Ancelotti’s management at Napoli, so it makes a lot of sense why he pushed for the deal which is hugely important as it gives off the impression that Ancelotti is the one making the transfer decisions and not just the recruitment staff.
In the announcement for the Allan signing he himself reiterated that it was because of Ancelotti he was convinced to sign for The Toffees. Allan said, ‘He has done everything possible to bring me here.’ Then went onto say that ‘it is the size of the club and the name of the coach which means you don’t think twice about coming to Everton.’ So, to Everton’s fans delight the Carlo Ancelotti pull is a real thing or ‘Professor Ancelotti’ as Allan called him.
Allan has left one of the top teams in Italy, who won the Coppa Italia last season, to be a part of the rebuild at Everton showing his commitment to be part of the project that Ancleotti signed up for. The Brazilian has a wealth of experience having played in the Serie A for the past eight years of his career playing 262 times in the Italian top division.
He has been a constant in the Napoli team for the best part of five years having played 212 times for one of Europe’s household names. He has performed consistently against Europe’s elite proving he has certainly got what it takes with 26 appearances in the Champions League.
Everton’s neighbours Liverpool will remember Allan not so fondly as he was in the starting eleven in every one of the four games that Napoli played against Liverpool in the group stage of the Champions League in the past two years. Allan came out victorious on two of those occasions and drew once frustrating Liverpool’s rhythm and flow by continuously cutting up play. So, it could be fair to say he is already in the good books of Everton fans as there is no better way to win over Evertonians than getting one or two over on Liverpool.
As well as all this Allan is a Copa America winner winning the tournament in 2019 for Brazil alongside Richarlison. He will be linking up with Everton’s star player so that should immediately help him to settle in quickly at the club and it may also help teammates around him as his winning mentality could rub off in the dressing room. There must be a change at the whole of Everton from pessimists to optimists and Allan can be a driving force behind that.
If Everton fans are not already on board with the signing, which they really should be, there was a video doing the rounds on social media of Allan which should help. It was only a short clip, but it has already won the hearts of supporters. Allan wins a tackle sending a Lazio player on the floor and celebrates like he has just scored a last-minute winner whilst also having the lowest socks you may ever see with no shin pads in. It is what Everton fans thrive on from their players; roar passion and madness.
With Ancelotti seemingly persisting with the 4-4-2 formation, the same one he used when Allan was playing for him at Napoli, the Brazilian should have no problems adjusting to the style of play. Of course, every player from foreign leagues will need time to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League however Allan is immediately the best option that Ancelotti has for the middle of the park even though he has had some injuries in the past season but that is no need to worry.
He is an Ancelotti signing and the first part of a whole new midfield, plus he seems to be absolutely mental. What isn’t there to be excited about?
Written by Elliot Thompson
