Former Nigeria’s Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo has revealed why he shunned a move to Italian Serie A champion, Juventus and English Premier League giant, Arsenal to join Everton.
The most capped Nigeria player, who joined Premier League side Everton after the 2002 FIFA World Cup said although he had an offer from the Turin based team and Arsenal but former Everton coach, David Moyes convinced him to joined The Toffees because of the promise of making him a world class defender.
Yobo, who is presently an assistant coach of Nigeria national team revealed that first scouted him in a pre-World Cup friendly against Republic of Ireland and was impressed after he came out on top in the midfield battle against former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, who was on parade for the Irish at Lansdowne Road, Dublin.
“How I moved to Everton, we played against Ireland in a friendly game preparing for the 2002 World Cup and David Moyes watched me.
“That game I played in the midfield with Jay-Jay, so we were in the middle and we played against Roy Keane, the former Manchester United captain, and I was able to make a statement in that game.
“After that game, David Moyes spoke to me that he wanted me to come to Everton and I made him understand that I wanted to go the World Cup first because even at the World Cup there was something going on with Juventus, a rumour that I was going to Juventus, so I told my agent that I wanted to go to the World Cup and I’m glad my dream came true,” the former Olympique de Marseille defender said.
Speaking further, after the 2002 World Cup, he had offers from many clubs because of his performance and when his agent told him that they are going to London, he thought he would be moving to Arsenal.
“My agent told me that we were going to England, London. I didn’t want to ask too many questions, where we were going, there were rumours of Arsenal and other teams but I went to Belgium and we took a flight and the flight landed in Liverpool.
“He told me Moyes wants to speak to me, so Moyes took me around the club, told me his dreams and what he expects from me and how good a player he wants me to be.
“Basically he wanted to make me one of the best defenders in the world, those were his words. He bought me lunch and sold the club entirely to me.
“He was a young manager, a former defender, one thing that struck me was he said he wants to make me one of the best defenders in the world, so we spoke with my agent and I decided to move to Everton but they couldn’t reach a deal that’s why it was a loan,” added Yobo.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
