Andros Townsend has revealed that Rafael Benitez phoned him about moving to Everton
New Everton signing Andros Townsend has revealed that Rafa Benitez phoned him and told him to wait for a move to Goodison Park.
The 30-year-old’s contract at Crystal Palace expired at the end of last season, and he was said to have many options, but it appears as if a move to join the Toffees was always his first choice.
Benitez was appointed Everton’s manager in June, and Townsend joined just under three weeks later, so the Spaniard obviously identified the former England winger very quickly.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Townsend said: “When he got the job, he called me and said: ‘I don’t know what I have at the club, I know you’re out of contract if you can be patient and I’ll assess the situation, and I’ll be back in contact.’
“When Rafa Benitez says that and he’s a manager you had great success with at Newcastle and obviously Everton Football Club behind him this time, I was delaying as much as possible, praying that the call would come.
“Thankfully, it came, and I shot down and did my medical and signed as soon as possible. For me, it was incredible.”
Benitez clearly wanted Townsend.
Given that in the end, Benitez had very little to spend picking up Townsend on a free looks like an astute signing.
The winger has bags of Premier League experience, and while the pair were at Newcastle, he scored three goals in ten appearances.
So, it looks like a clever signing, and it appears as if the lure of Benitez was what convinced Townsend to move to Goodison Park.
Ultimately, having a manager like Benitez is going to help the Toffees bring in players because of his reputation around the world.
The Spaniard has already started very well, despite spending very little and Townsend is just one player who has praised Benitez for what he has done so far.
Townsend will not be the only player to be convinced to join Everton because of Benitez’s presence; we can guarantee that.
In other Everton news, an injury update has been provided on one Toffees star.
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