Andros Townsend reveals he rejected Champions League football for Everton
Andros Townsend opted against joining a Champions League side in order to reunite with Rafa Benitez at Everton.
The 30-year-old was released by Crystal Palace after his contract expired at the end of last season, and he has since joined the Toffees.
As a free agent, Townsend was not short of offers, but he was keen on working with Benitez again after their brief spell together at Newcastle United, and he readily rejected the chance to play European football.
The attacking midfielder told The Guardian: “I spoke to Rafa soon after he got the job. I had some interesting offers. I was trying to delay them as long as possible; I was waiting patiently for that offer from Everton to come through.
“Thankfully it did. Maybe I could have played Champions League football in a different country, which did excite me, but it wasn’t a case of weighing anything up. With the Premier League, Everton and Rafa Benítez, it was a no-brainer for me.”
Smart move
Townsend has told Benitez he wants to play for England again [], and he knows remaining in the Premier League – with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate often visiting every stadium to run the rule over players – gives him a realistic chance.
Whether the Toffees new man can break into that star-studded attack is debate for another day, but he has given himself a chance by moving to Goodison Park.
Townsend wants to prove his detractors wrong and show that he still has what it takes to excel at Premier League level, and we cannot wait to see him do that.
Richarlison is the only winger we have that is capable of keeping him out of the line-up, and the fact that both players can play on either wing means the former Tottenham Hotspur man has a chance to play regularly.
Age is no longer on his side, but there is drive and passion aplenty, and his quality in the final third cannot be denied.
Townsend has a lot of work to do on the pitch if he wants to make anything worthwhile out of his move to Everton, and we are excited by the prospect of him hitting the ground running on Merseyside.
In other Everton news, Mega-money development complicates Toffees player exit.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.