‘Causes depression’: Ace explains why he’s ‘very happy’ to leave Everton

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Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Joao Virginia admits he was ‘very happy to return to Portugal’ after growing tired of the rain at Everton, speaking on the ADN de Leao podcast. 

Then again, if Virginia had donned that Thomas Shelby-inspired flat cap he wore throughout his interview with Sporting’s in-house media department, those miserably Merseyside days might not have bothered him quite so much.

It would at least have shielded him from those drizzly days in England’s north west.

Virginia is back in more comfortable climes these days. The former Benfica youngster returned to Lisbon last summer, joining reigning Primeira Liga champions Sporting on loan. 

What’s more, Ruben Amorim’s green-and-white-clad side can turn Virginia’s short-term deal into a permanent transfer to the tune of £3 million.

One suspects the Portugal U21 international won’t be too disappointed if has to leave Goodison Park for good. 

Does Joao Virginia have a future at Everton?

“I was very happy to return to Portugal. The rain… that sometimes even causes depression,” Virginia sighs, before explaining how he ended up in Britain in the first place (Translated by O Jogo).

“The Premier League weighed in on my decision. (At Benfica) there were a lot of goalkeepers. I wasn’t happy. I had the opportunity (to join Arsenal in 2015) and went.

Amorim admits he’s unsure about whether Virginia will stay at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The 22-year-old is yet to make a single league appearance for Sporting. Former Atletico, Real Madrid and Real Betis ‘keeper Antonio Adan is firmly established as Amorim’s number one. 

Will Everton regret letting him go?

Viriginia has found game-time easier to come by in the cup competitions however. The one-time Reading loanee even started in Sporting’s 4-2 Champions League group-stage defeat to Erik Ten Hag’s all-conquering Ajax.

And his seven appearances this term are still more than Viriginia made in three years at Everton.

Only an injury to Jordan Pickford forced Carlo Ancelotti to give the youngster a chance during dismal a 2-0 home defeat to Burnley. 

“I played in a game where Pickford got injured,” he remembers (Record).

“It was brutal but a shame because the stadiums were without fans. I entered in the 40^th minute against Burnley and I didn’t concede a goal.”