Liverpool alumnus Jose Enrique trolls Everton with ‘Agent Rafa’ Benitez joke
Former Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique has mocked Everton for their struggles under previous boss Rafael Benitez, whom he refers to as “Agent Rafa”.
The 36-year-old didn’t arrive at Anfield until after the former manager had left but clearly feels a strong enough connection with the club to consider his compatriot an ally.
The Spaniard was sacked from Goodison in January with the club locked in a relegation battle, and with mutiny in the stands at how the unpopular ex-Reds man was running things, to eventually be replaced by Frank Lampard.
Enrique posted on his personal Twitter account yesterday (12 April), alongside two photos of Benitez laughing and joking with current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and clapping, laughter and red emojis: “Agent Rafa telling Klopp how he nearly got Everton relegated”.
On talkSPORT last week Simon Jordan had pointed at owner Farhad Moshiri’s decision to bring in the former Chelsea and Newcastle manager, and then to fire him, as the primary causes of the major turmoil at the club currently.
Wind up
The former left-back was once a key member of the first team at Anfield under Kenny Dalglish but eventually fell out of favour under Brendan Rodgers.
He spent five years at the club though which likely cemented his place in the bad books of Toffees fans everywhere.
In case it hadn’t, his joke here certainly will, especially thanks to the element of truth in it.
Many fans will feel it is factually accurate even if they have an entirely different perspective about it.
Benitez was a thoroughly unpopular choice to replace Carlo Ancelotti, and the fans made that quite clear, leading to his eventual removal.
The club nose-dived under his direction to such an extent that his successor is still struggling to drag them out of the mire.
The 61-year-old wouldn’t have deliberately caused the club to implode, but he might as well have done in the eyes of the support considering the effect he ultimately had and what he represents.
Lampard must finish the job of keeping the club up or Enrique won’t be the only one across the city having a laugh at the Toffees’ expense.
In other Everton news, Kevin Campbell has hit out at Cristiano Ronaldo after his phone-slapping incident with a young fan.
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