Cuco Martina reveals Ronald Koeman Everton promise that had him dreaming
Cuco Martina has revealed that Ronald Koeman promised to return a year later and sign him for Everton after an initial deal collapsed after a medical already happened.
Martina joined the Blues from Southampton in 2017 on a free transfer after his Saints contract expired, but the deal was 12 months after it was originally slated to happen.
The Curacao international defender originally underwent a medical in 2016 and was already in Liverpool for a move to Goodison Park, only for the Saints to cancel the deal after an injury. Koeman however promised to return for him, something Martina told the Everton programme he never forgot.
“I had a medical with Everton (in 2016) and stayed at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool for nearly two weeks,” he said.
“Southampton signed (fellow right-back) Jeremy Pied but he got injured at the beginning of the season and they said, ‘you need to come back’.
“I didn’t get a look-in under the new coach (Claude Puel) in pre-season, so I was thinking, ‘what’s the point?’
“Everton would have been a big step up, a chance to play with top players. I’d worked in the gym in England, I was stronger and thinking faster – and I believed I could play.
“Then I went from somebody to nobody. I kept my belief and resolved to work hard and not give up. Ronald Koeman told me, ‘don’t worry, next season you will be here’.
“Imagine. Cuco Martina playing for Everton. A huge club. Wow. I felt I was dreaming. Playing at Goodison gave me goosebumps.
“I realised (against Bournemouth), if the fans are behind the players at Goodison, nobody can stop us. It was crazy.”
Man of his word
It’s nice to hear that Koeman made a promise and followed through with it, considering the way football works sometimes is quite cruel.
The Toffees got some decent return from him, as he filled in for Leighton Baines in an injury hit debut campaign before Koeman was sacked and he didn’t feature again.
Despite not featuring in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans and leaving on loan twice, Martina only has good memories of his time at Goodison Park and seems to still be pinching himself that he pulled on the blue shirt once upon a time.
He gave a good account of himself and while he wasn’t good enough long-term, he’s fondly remembered by fans and obviously has a good relationship with the club still.
His comments about the atmosphere and fans will go down well too, and need to ring true as the club battle relegation this season under Lampard with just 14 games remaining.
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