Ex-Everton chief adds fuel to Liverpool fire with Goodison Park transfer admission
Everton and Liverpool have been fierce rivals for quite some time, and that is a derby that won’t go away anytime soon.
The two Merseyside clubs came face to face last month, with the red half of the city the happier of the two after Liverpool defeated Everton 2-0 in their Premier League clash at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah was the villain that day from a blue perspective, with the Egyptian winger netting both goals of the match.
But another villain has now emerged in a different area altogether, with former Everton director of football Marcel Brands revealing insight into his transfer difficulties with former Toffees boss Rafa Benitez.
The Spaniard did, of course, enjoy plenty of success across the city, notably helping the Reds lift the Champions League trophy in 2005. But he put those memories behind him when moving into the enemy dugout at Goodison Park in 2021.
Having worked alongside Benitez at the club, Brands has now spoken out about some issues he had with the manager, particularly when it came to recruitment, with current Liverpool star Luis Diaz singled out.
“I wanted to install my philosophy and structure into the club which would allow Everton to progress but decisions from above did not allow this,” Brands told AD Sportwereld, as transcribed by the Mirror (8 November).
“In the summer of 2021 we were looking to bring in Luis Diaz from Porto. I was working hard in making James Rodriguez go to Porto as part of the deal that would bring Diaz to the club however Rafa Benitez ruled against as he was unsure on the player.
“At this time the manager held significant clout with the owner. This was just one example of the difficulties I experienced as director of football at Everton.”
The move did not take place, with the Colombian winger later moving to Anfield, where he has become a fan favourite.
The revelation from Brands certainly won’t go down well with Toffees fans, who will be left wondering what could have been in recent seasons had they managed to secure the signature of the talented attacker.
In other Everton news, a journalist has shared a Toffees Premier League relegation prediction amid the points deduction threat facing the club.