There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Vitaliy Mykolenko swapped Dynamo Kiev for Premier League giants Everton in the January transfer window, assistant coach Emil Karas tells Sport Arena.
But were they tears of sadness? A disconsonant dressing room mourning the departure not only of a key player but a much-loved team-mate?
Or tears of pride? Dinamo hearts warmed by the prospect of ‘one of their own’ sealing an £18 million move to arguably the most high-profile league in European football.
Mykolenko’s shock move certainly captured the imagination back home in his native Ukraine.
If a 22-year-old from Cherkasy can fulfil his dreams in the Premier League – the most expensive Ukrainian footballer since Andriy Yarmolenko joined Borussia Dortmund five years ago – then what’s to stop other budding youngsters following in Mykolenko’s footsteps?
Can Vitaliy Mykolenko emulate Lucas Digne at Everton?
“Was it sad to part with Mykolenko? We all cried. We didn’t even say goodbye. It turned out that we were all on vacation,” says Karas, denied the opportunity to bid a face-to-face farewell with his trusty left-back.
“We congratulated him via text. He said; ‘Mister, thanks for everything’. He promised that when there was a pause (in the season), he would return and meet with us.
“We are all happy (for him). I spoke with the players, everyone is happy that he went to the strongest league in the world.
“This shows Dynamo players that, if you play, you win, then (clubs from big leagues) can buy you. They can invite you to a strong league with strong top teams.”
Mykolenko, who was also a target for Newcastle United and Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma, arrived at Goodison Park as a replacement for the out-of-favour Lucas Digne.
He hasn’t exactly enjoyed a stellar start to life in Everton colours, however. The manager who signed him, Rafa Benitez, was sacked just days after Mykolenko’s arrival and a debut performance in the 2-1 defeat to Norwich City left a lot to be desired.
The appointment of legendary left-back Ashley Cole as part of Frank Lampard’s coaching staff, however, should do him the world of good.
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