Everton midfielder Allan admits he was disappointed to miss out on a move to Paris Saint-Germain before swapping Napoli for the Premier League instead, speaking to Corriere dello Sport.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously quipped that attempting to reach an agreement with Daniel Levy was more painful than his hip replacement.
Holding talks with Aurelio de Laurentiis, then, must feel like wrenching out your molars a rusty pair of tweezers.
Allan found out the hard way just how demanding Napoli’s president can be when he missed out on a dream move to the Ligue 1 champions a couple of years ago.
“When Napoli turned down the offer that a big and important club like PSG are proposing, it’s only natural that you are going to lose your temper with everyone,” Allan’s agent, Claudio Vaghegghi, told Radio Marte after Il Partenopei turned their nose up at a reported £40 million bid.
“Clearly, both he and the club are trying to find a solution that suits everyone. I don’t know precisely how things are going between Allan and Napoli, but I am sure they’ll be able to sort it out.
“He is a great professional.”
Everton’s Allan missed out on dream PSG switch
Vaghegghi’s confidence was not exactly well-placed. Because, when Allan eventually left Napoli around 18 months later, he would end up at Everton instead.
And with all due repsect to one of the most historic and well-supported clubs in English football, regular silverware and Champions League football is not something you would associated with a club who avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth in 2021/22.
“PSG? It can be said that it (the deal) was done,” Allan reflects. “Was it a disappointment (to miss out on a move to the Parc des Princes)? Yes, but this must be contextualised.
“I was happy in Naples and I am happy even now. But that was a really great opportunity for a new life. It seemed like a useful move to everyone, but (Napoli) then came up with a request (PSG) deemed exaggerated.”
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Allan believes he will still be plying his trade in Everton blue next term but, in truth, his future is far from certain.
The Sun believe that a Toffees side under pressure from Financial Fair Play are not against the idea of removing a £70,000-a-week player from the wage bill.
Particularly after Allan lost his place in Frank Lampard’s midfield to a rejuvenated Fabian Delph.
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