Marcel Brands shares Everton transfer he had to veto after Moshiri said yes

Marcel Brands has revealed he stopped Everton signing Mario Balotelli after Farhad Moshiri was convinced to make the move.

Mino Raiola, who was a world-renowned football agent before his death in April 2022, had convinced Morshiri to bring former Liverpool striker Balotelli back to the Premier League for his second spell on Merseyside in 2019 during talks to sign Moise Kean.

Brands shared the story in an interview with Algemeen Dagblad [9 November] with the former Everton director of football vetoing what could have been one of the most controversial transfers in Premier League history.

He said: “That seemed to Raiola to be a great striker duo [Balotelli and Kean] for the Premier League. Both fast, skilled, strong and also complementary. After a while he had substantiated his story so beautifully that Moshiri also completely liked it.

“Moshiri wanted to pull out his wallet. But I was responsible for the technical policy, for the composition of the selection.

“The great thing was: if you told Mino the truth to his face, he could handle it very well in the end. But he was super smart. If you let go of the steering wheel for a moment, he would sail in the other direction.”

Everton dodged a bullet with Mario Balotelli

While the 34-year-old, at the time, had just rediscovered his form in Ligue 1 with Nice after scoring 33 goals in 61 appearances, his return to Merseyside would have undoubtedly brought chaos.

Liverpool had already fallen for the Balotelli trap in 2014, signing the Italian to replace Luis Suarez and subsequently moving him on to France after one goal in two years at Anfield.

Furthermore, Kean proved to be another in a long line of misfires at Goodison Park, the forward arrived in the Premier League as one of the most sought-after prospects in world football but only managed two goals for the Blues before he re-joined Juventus three years later.

Everton supporters have become resigned to the club’s well-documented failings in the transfer market but, will be praying this will all change under prospective owner Dan Friedkin.

The Friedkin Group, barring any unforeseen setbacks, will assume control of the club from Moshiri with “serious” money behind them, although the Blues will be limited as to what can be spent in January, the summer transfer window proves to be the biggest yet.

There are more pressing matters to resolve at Goodison Park, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s expiring contract – Everton will consider a cut-price sale in January [Joe Thomas] if the 27-year-old opts against a renewal.

In other Everton news, the Toffees face an anxious wait on Dwight McNeil ahead of the West Ham United clash.

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