Vlasic left Everton to join CSKA on a season-long loan.
Everton winger Nikola Vlasic has told Croatian outlet Novilist that he decided to leave Goodison Park this summer because Marco Silva could not promise the youngster any game time.
The 20-year-old has made an instant impact since joining CSKA, starring in his first three Russian Premier League outings which has seen the club win twice and draw once away at Rubin Kazan.
Vlasic failed to break into the Toffees side last season on a regular basis, managing only 19 appearances – eight of which were from the bench. He scored two goals against Apollon Limassol in the Europa League.
The Croatia youth international fell down the pecking order even further following the signing of Richarlison from Watford, and Vlasic spoke of how Silva’s comments forced him to look for pastures new.
“I talked at the beginning of the training with Everton coach Marco Silva, who openly told me he could not promise me a place among the first eleven,” Vlasic said. “Since I’ve been practically lost last season, I did not want to repeat something like that.
“Everton gave me the wrong hands to find the club where I would play. I had good deals from France, Germany, Italy, several quality talks with club coaches from these countries, but in the end the decision fell to CSKA Moscow.”
Wearing the number eight shirt with CSKA, Vlasic will be looking to help the Russian giants finish at the top of the Russian Premier League come May next year – retaining the title they won last season.
It remains to be seen what kind of future Vlasic has on Merseyside, though, with the chances of him breaking back into Silva’s side unlikely. He does have four years remaining on his contract.
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