Ross Barkley left Everton to join Chelsea earlier this month for £15million.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has been quoted by the Daily Express as saying that the departure of Ross Barkley to Chelsea was “most painful” sale since taking over at Goodison Park.
The 24-year-old finally left boyhood club Everton after months of doubt surrounding his future, to join Chelsea for a fee believed to be around the £15million mark. His contract at Goodison Park expired at the end of the season.
Moshiri has now overseen the sales of the likes of John Stones to Manchester City, Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United and Gerard Deulofeu to Barcelona, but the loss of Barkley seems to have hit him the hardest.
He claimed that Barkley did not want to leave Everton when he was injured, despite receiving an offer of £35million while Moshiri also stated that he could not find Barkley’s agent for half a year.
“Ross was the most painful [departure],” said Moshiri. “I said last year we had three stars, Ross, Romelu [Lukaku] and John Stones but they’ve all gone. For sixth months we couldn’t find the agent [of Ross].
“Bill [Kenwright] miraculously got an offer of £35m for a player who was going to be a free agent but he didn’t want to go when he was injured. Sam spoke to him but he wouldn’t stay.”
Everton’s former number eight failed to make single appearance for the Merseyside club this season before departing last week, as he struggled to overcome a long-term hamstring injury.
He could now make his debut for Antonio Conte’s Chelsea on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup against Arsenal after returning to training at the Blues’ Cobham training ground, but the Italian manager may overlook him to ease his recovery.
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