“It’s been a great start” says Carlos Alcaraz

Everton’s winter transfer signing Carlos Alcaraz has taken little time to make a mark on supporters. Signed on loan from Brazilian club Flamengo on deadline day, Alcaraz has made five appearances for the Toffees already and also scored the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. He also set up Beto’s opener in that fixture.

Talking to the club website, the midfielder was keen to point out that the confidence shown by his teammates and manager David Moyes has been instrumental to his great start for the club.

“It’s been a great start, but that start is also based on the confidence my teammates give me on a daily basis, in training, with the warmth I have received from them, so really it’s been very nice,” said Alcaraz.

“With that affection, with that confidence that my teammates give me, I will continue to try to show my game and hopefully things will continue to go well for me, but, more importantly, I hope things go well for the club.”

The 22-year-old was Moyes’ first signing for the club in his second spell in charge and Alcaraz heaped praise on the veteran manager.

“Moyes is a great person, he’s a great manager, he gives me and my teammates a lot of confidence, but maybe more so for me as the last player to arrive in a team that is already set up. He’s a great person and we’re very happy to have him back at Everton.”

The Argentine is still getting used to Merseyside. The bitter cold weather has been a dramatic change compared to life in Rio de Janeiro. The local Scouse accent is also taking him time to get used to.

“I don’t know the city very well, but based on the few things I’ve seen on social media or what people have told me, it’s a very nice city and I’m looking forward to moving into a house so I can go out and explore Liverpool. It’s a bit difficult, the English I hear here is a bit complicated but if you speak to me slowly, I understand a lot. I find it a bit difficult to speak, but it’s going well.”

One teammate that Alcaraz has been particularly close with is Jack Harrison, himself on loan from Leeds United. The winger, who is fluent in Spanish courtesy of his Costa Rican girlfriend, has helped the Argentine adapt to the dressing room and has also struck up a close friendship.

That camaraderie was on display after Alcaraz’s exploits at Selhurst Park - his winning goal set up Harrison - and the two spoke to the media in the post-match media interaction.

“Jack has helped me because he speaks Spanish very well, he tells me that he wants to practise with me,” says Alcaraz with his already-familiar beaming smile. Really, he is a great lad, he is a great player so, to be honest, I am very grateful to him more than anything else for helping me in this, which is the beginning of my time at Everton.”

Everton, of course, have the option to sign him permanently at the conclusion of his loan spell. The midfielder expressed his desire to stay at the club because of the “great fans and the institution” here and is focused on proving himself on the pitch every week.

“It would be great to stay here because the club, the institution, the fans... they’re great. It’s very crazy but that’s why I’m very calm and will keep doing the work I’ve been doing and show what type of player I am.”

The fans have already taken a liking to the Argentine and the way he shows passion on the field. He witnessed the loyal support of the Blues on the trip to London to face Crystal Palace which included a chant with his name, to the tune of Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band.

“You can really feel the love the Everton fans have for the club, for the shirt and that makes them a great fanbase. I heard the chant during the match and it filled me with a lot of pride because it was my third match, my first as a starter. I had those nerves and that desire to do things well. 

“So to hear the fans singing my chant during the match, and then when the match finished, they sang it again, it was a very nice moment and it made me very proud. Hopefully, that will be a breakthrough for me and for Everton from here on out for the rest of the season.”

 

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