Kean expressed remorse for breaching “lockdown” rules

Monday, 18 May, 2020 34comments  |  Jump to most recent

Moise Kean has reportedly apologised to Everton officials for the infamous party he hosted at his Cheshire apartment last month, with the club considering the matter closed.

The young striker found his name splashed across newspaper back pages when footage of his and a group of friends' hijinks were picked up by tabloids, with his apparently flagrant disregard for Government directives for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic embarrassing the club.

Kean was officially rebuked and fined two weeks' wages by Everton but according to a recent report by Greg O'Keeffe in The Athletic, the Italian U21 international is genuinely remorseful over what he stresses was a misunderstanding.

Kean says he wasn't fully clear on the lockdown orders, saying that he believed people were only meant to stay at home. And O'Keeffe reports that far from being strippers or “call girls”, everyone in his apartment that night were from his immediate circle of friends or “friends of friends”.

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The 20-year-old, who remained in England rather than return to his home country like some of the other players, apparently apologised “profusely” to Director of Football, Marcel Brands, accepted his punishment and offered to personally call manager, Carlo Ancelotti, to explain the situation.

As O'Keeffe explains, Kean's transgression ran contrary to the forward strides he has taken in recent months as he seeks to secure a long-term place in Ancelotti's first team. Understandably given his tender age and inexperience and the turmoil that engulfed Everton's season prior to Ancelotti's arrival, the former Juventus forward has struggled to adapt to the Premier League.

He scored his first goal in Royal Blue earlier this year, however, and his coaches have been impressed with his application but a source close to him told The Athletic that he has struggled at times with the isolation:

“This is the first time in his life that he has lived on his own. He's in a foreign country, and he has had so much attention. Yes, he had previously played a handful of games at Juventus, where he was surrounded by big-name stars, but when he came to Everton, because of the money involved, he was viewed as a big signing himself. It's not easy for young players to cope with that extra attention and expectation.”

In that sense, the anticipated return to training this week as “Project Restart” takes its first tentative steps back to a resumption of the 2019-20 season can only be of benefit to a player for whom the club continue to have high hopes despite the consistent media speculation in recent weeks that he is set to return to Serie A, perhaps with AS Roma.

 

Reader Comments (34)

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Kase Chow
1 Posted 18/05/2020 at 19:28:25
Still think he's rubbish. And on that basis I'd get rid.

Not what we needed at this time.

We need a proven goalscorer not a maybe.

Joe O'Brien
2 Posted 18/05/2020 at 19:46:31
I'd keep him all day long. I really rate him, he's only 19, playing in a foreign country. Took guts for him to make this move.

It was a silly mistake...19-year-olds make those mistakes. We'll regret it if we let him leave. We need to have a bit of patience with him.

Michael Lynch
3 Posted 18/05/2020 at 20:11:22
Just as a side-issue, the report says he didn't opt to return to his home country "like some of the other players".

Do we know who is not in the country? And will they be required to quarantine for 14 days when they return to the UK, or will they go straight into training?

Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 18/05/2020 at 20:50:04
Go along with Joe (2), give him a break, 19 years of age in a strange country, having a small party in his own house with his own friends and relations, people he knew, and he has made a full apology.
Tony Abrahams
5 Posted 18/05/2020 at 21:08:29
He made a mistake, but if he apologised to Brands, and wanted to call Ancellotti, then it looks like the press are creating more lies by saying he hasn't settled and he wants to leave?

I wasn't aware of him when we signed him, he hasn't done much in his Everton career so far, but I don't want him to leave, because I think he could become a very good Everton player.

Martin Berry
6 Posted 18/05/2020 at 21:09:07
Give the lad a break, a chance, and another season and then see where we are with him. He is only 19 and hopefully he is learning about everything?
Dave Latham
7 Posted 19/05/2020 at 00:32:16
Kase (1). Is he really rubbish? You may or not be right and only time will tell... A proven striker may be what we wanted but we signed potential. Can't change that so let's give that potential a chance to come through.
Mike Gaynes
8 Posted 19/05/2020 at 04:52:13
"Rubbish"... "get rid" "need a proven goalscorer"

Right-o.

Utter idiocy.

Joe, Dave and Martin have it right.

Alan J Thompson
9 Posted 19/05/2020 at 07:41:50
I think the lad has shown enough for Everton to keep him and that he will make the top level. However, if he had had the Strippers and Call Girls they would have at least made him shower first.
Joe Corgan
10 Posted 19/05/2020 at 08:12:58
Mike Gaynes 8 - Or perhaps, you know, an opinion that differs from yours.

To call it idiocy is massively disrespectful to the poster and there are much better ways of expressing your disagreement.

Eddie Dunn
11 Posted 19/05/2020 at 08:33:54
I think he will prove to be an exellent player. Patience, patience!
Kase Chow
12 Posted 19/05/2020 at 09:10:59
Mike #8,

So far, from what Kean has shown this season, he has been rubbish. He can't seem to even control the ball at times. It's not a difficult skill. If a team offered money back, then yes, I'd get rid of this Sandro Mk II.

Why? Because we needed more goals than 1 in 26. Thank goodness Calvert-Lewin stepped up. (And I'm aware that he could be the template that Kean could hopefully follow. However, their attitudes seem very different. Calvert-Lewin hasn't been in trouble once. Kean has, about 3 times already.)

We needed a proven goalscorer – yes!!! We did!!! We aren't far off Champions League or Europa League qualification and a few more goals would have seen up compete.

Call me an idiot if you want but these are ALL valid points that you can disagree with, but to express a different yet legitimate view doesn't make ME the idiot in the room, pal.

Kase Chow
13 Posted 19/05/2020 at 09:31:31
Joe #10,

Thanks for the support - name-calling feels a bit childish. I appreciate your objectivity.

Alan J Thompson
14 Posted 19/05/2020 at 11:00:38
Kase(#12); Wasn't something similar said about Lukaku and a bag of cement? Wouldn't want him back either then?
Liam Reilly
15 Posted 19/05/2020 at 11:21:20
The kid's got loads of potential and, if the season is to resume (which I wholeheartedly do not agree with), why not give him a run of games to see if he can fit the Premier League?

Perversely, no supporters in the stadiums may actually help the kids with a lack of confidence as they won't be as nervous.

Brian Murray
16 Posted 19/05/2020 at 11:30:45
The clips in training we have seen of Kean skinning the likes of Holgate and banging them in show there is a talent in there somewhere. Would hate to see him fulfil it away from us.

I can see the empty stadiums until next year will help him perversely. Less pressure on him. One more year we will all know by then.

Eddie Dunn
17 Posted 19/05/2020 at 11:56:31
Kase, you said we needed a proven goal scorer. We have one: Calvert-Lewin.

Kean is going to improve and give us something different. He reminds me of Saha. Perhaps he could shed some weight and get Duncan to give him some heading tips... there is a player in there!

Tony Everan
18 Posted 19/05/2020 at 12:11:56
Moise Kean needs game time, he is not going to develop without playing regularly.

He's a kid and was starting to show more confidence and threat before the lockdown. He was one of, if not the best player on the pitch for our home game against Newcastle. I thought that game showed that we have a player who the coaches can work with to become a star player with time and patience. He would have improved, been used more and showed more potential in the last 9 games. A bit more patience and nurturing of his talent will pay dividends for efc.

If he is not in Carlo's plans to start games his progress would be better served by a loan to a good club which guarantees game time. He will come back for the 21-22 season a better player.

Alex Kociuba
19 Posted 19/05/2020 at 13:00:59
I couldn't care less about his antics during lockdown. The problem is he's the worst player in an Everton shirt since Brett Angell.
Pat Kelly
20 Posted 19/05/2020 at 15:17:22
It was a simple misunderstanding. He believed people were only meant to stay at home. Got it in one, Moise. So how was it okay for those friends of friends to go to your home? Quit while you're behind and stop insulting people's intelligence.
Peter Jacobs
21 Posted 19/05/2020 at 15:20:48
I think at times we are quick to judge. Bear in mind that Moise Kean is 20 just and he is in a new country etc that he be afforded some time to adjust. To hear that he can't control a ball etc – I haven't seen that. He is strong, he has skill and pace. Will he have enough quality to make it now? It could go either way... but I think he should be given time.

Calvert-Lewin has had his detractors about whether he was good enough but look, it's clicked for him. So I think it's only fair Moise Kean is given time to develop.

Steve Brown
22 Posted 19/05/2020 at 15:38:24
"He's rubbish", I've read the same comments on these pages about Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Kenny and Davies. He's 20 years old so it is far too premature to make such sweeping judgements. Our model is now to buy potential and develop it. That doesn't happen overnight.

As for having cheeky parties as a teenager when he shouldn't have, well I've done that and worse when I was a kid. Bet plenty on here have done something similar as well in their younger days.

Bill Gienapp
23 Posted 19/05/2020 at 21:04:50
Alex (19) - LOL. Nice hyperbole, dude.

You'd rather have Sandro over Kean? Or Niasse? Or Kone? Or McGeady?

Come on...

Alex Kociuba
24 Posted 20/05/2020 at 10:43:33
I forgot about Sandro to be honest. I don't/didn't rate either of the others you mention particularly but, yes, all are better options than him.

I think Kean is utterly beyond useless and find it completely baffling people saying "There's clearly talent there' etc. I honestly can't see the tiniest hint of any quality whatsoever.

He looks lost, behind the pace of the game, wasteful and totally ineffective. I'd say he has the effect of playing with 10 men. I reckon McGeady on an average day will be about his maximum potential.

Michael O'Malley
25 Posted 20/05/2020 at 12:18:45
I'm sorry but to call Kean beyond useless is just utter garbage, The lad has played for Juventus and is a an international and is represented by one of the biggest agents in football. Let's judge him when he has a decent run in the side and not just a few sporadic sub appearances when we've usually been losing or under the cosh.
Phil Smith
26 Posted 21/05/2020 at 15:15:11
If it was up to Alex no kid would get a chance. Have to put total faith in the kids for the next few years. This virus could have a massive impact on players moving so freely from elsewhere.
Harry Williams
27 Posted 21/05/2020 at 21:57:09
Ferguson seems to have worked well with Lakuku, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, can he do the same with Kean?

Considering he dragged him of vs Man Utd! — Is Ferguson's heart in it to improve Kean...?

Martin Reppion
28 Posted 21/05/2020 at 22:06:31
Cards on table:

This time last year, if a half-decent bid had come in from a Championship club for Calvert-Lewin, I'd have been shouting 'bite their hand off!' It would have looked like a good deal for both.

At the same age as Moise (Dominic is 3 years older), Calvert-Lewin played 11 first team games for us and scored 1 goal. Hardly worth keeping the lad on, was it?

Now, the boy is on the verge of a deserved England call-up. So how can anyone make a real judgement call here?

It takes time for talent to show. Some look like world-beaters and disappear. Others are slow burners then click.

I don't know if Moise Kean will be a star performer. But, if he is, I want him to do it for Everton.

Michael Kenrick
29 Posted 22/05/2020 at 12:45:26
According to Corriere dello Sport, Carlo Ancelotti is happy for Moise Kean to join Roma on loan for the 2020-21 season, and the Serie A club may not have an obligation to buy included in the deal.
Robert Tressell
30 Posted 22/05/2020 at 13:31:15
Michael, that might not be a bad outcome. We get a loan fee for Kean and he gets game time in Rome. I don't personally want him sold so almost encouraged there's no obligation to purchase. As Martin says, if he's going to flourish, then I'd rather he did that at Goodison (or our next home).

It may also be that the loan paves the way for Ãœnder, Pellegrini or AN Other to come in the opposite direction. It may be a cost-efficient way of reducing the purchase price and then, who knows, the agents' fees and tax payable maybe.

It would leave us worryingly light up front if Calvert-Lewin got injured though, especially since only he and Richarlison ever score. We'd probably need to buy or loan a back-up striker as a precaution.

Alan J Thompson
31 Posted 22/05/2020 at 16:38:03
We pay somewhere around 㿅M for a player we then send out on loan so that he can improve!?! We must be the laughing stock of the football world but it's not the first time is it, we did it with Sandro and did we or didn't we with Deulofeu.

I hope his Mum never told him not to cross the Via Appia on his own.

John Pickles
32 Posted 23/05/2020 at 12:55:48
He should have just claimed he was a government adviser and so thought the lockdown restrictions didn't apply to him :)
Carl Manning
33 Posted 24/05/2020 at 22:34:06
I would sell him in a heartbeat if we could get our money back. Looks like a headless chicken when I've seen him. Plus we are heading back to the days when 㿀M will rightly seem a lot for a transfer fee.

I can't see how anybody can rate him from what they've seen in an Everton shirt. Sell him now while the Italians still rate him highly! I predict he becomes a journey man and bounces around clubs his whole career.

Michael Barrett
34 Posted 26/05/2020 at 10:49:41
Spot on, Carl (33).

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