Some Everton fans have been reacting on social media after Joshua King told Dagbladet that Carlo Ancelotti lied to him over his potential playing time to leave Bournemouth.
King completed a last-ditch move to Everton on Deadline Day of the winter transfer market to join Ancelotti in February. The Toffees paid a nominal fee that could have risen to £5m had he stayed beyond an initial six-month contract.
But King rarely featured under Ancelotti and Everton will release the forward when his deal expires on Wednesday. The £45,000-per-week Norwegian only featured in 11 Premier League games during his time on Merseyside, totalling just 137 minutes.
Ancelotti awarded King his longest outing for Everton against Fulham in February when the 29-year-old played 34 minutes. His final three outings, meanwhile, totalled 20 minutes over a possible 10 games and failed to start a single fixture.
King has now claimed he feels Ancelotti lied to him in order to join the Toffees on Deadline Day. But the 54-cap international does not regret moving to Goodison Park in February.
“Do not trust coaches who promise you things and say you will get the chance, that you will start,” King said. “I went and talked to Ancelotti, but what we talked about in that room, stays in that room. Yes, I do [believe he lied]. That’s how the football world is.
“This is how it is when you get to the top of the real world. But no, I do not regret that I went there, but yes, he lied to me. But again; there are not many honest people who work in football. Except for the players. I had no relationship with Ancelotti.”
Everton fans react to King claiming Ancelotti lied
King would never have expected he would leave Everton having never started a game under Ancelotti when he joined. The forward would never have joined had he felt the Italian was unwilling to give him a fair shot.
Some Everton fans have now reacted on social media to King claiming Ancelotti lied by agreeing with the attacker. That’s because they also believe the Italian sold them a dream he was unable to fulfil before re-joining Real Madrid.
Others also question if Ancelotti shared a good relationship with any member of the Everton squad given King did not. Several players offered an outpour of support when Marco Silva was fired, including Richarlison. But the Mirror note how Ancelotti was not shown the same.
So, here are some of the messages shared from Everton fans reacting to King claiming Ancelotti lied to sign him…
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