After a catastrophic season, at least personally, with Ronald Koeman, David Unsworth and Sam Allardyce, everything appeared to be getting better for Kevin Mirallas at Everton when Marco Silva took charge.
Playing in the pre-season friendlies, the Belgian forward appeared to be in the club’s plans for the 2018-19 season, but it all came crashing down when he was summoned into his manager’s office.
Speaking to Sport/Foot, the forward, who has already discussed his Everton exit in the past, explains what was said behind those doors, and what led him to go to Fiorentina, where he has a chance of a permanent stay if they pick up the option in his loan come the end of the season.
He said: “After the friendly against Rennes, I understood that would be it. Two days later, he summoned me and said: ‘You had a great preseason, but I need to start afresh with a new group and I need to close the chapter on the old guard’.
“I really appreciated his honesty. In fact, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines, the two who stayed, are barely playing. The next day, my agent tells me about interest from Fenerbahçe, clubs from the Middle-East or Fiorentina. The day after that, I’d signed with the Italians”.
Enjoying himself in Serie A, Mirallas has yet to fully convince Stefano Pioli, who seems determined to get the best out of Marko Pjaca instead, but he knows he’ll get there eventually.
As things stand, he’s only started two games, with four extra appearances from the bench, but he most recently played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Torino.
With a three-year contract waiting for him if he impresses, he’s hoping he gets more and more chances to prove himself as the season goes on.
