Manager insists he was ‘very happy’ to talk to Everton and Watford – Glad for ‘opportunity’

Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro has confirmed he held talks with both Everton and Watford over their manager positions earlier this year.

Both Premier League clubs found themselves on the hunt for a new manager back in January, with Watford sacking Xisco and Everton parting ways with Rafa Benitez.

Cannavaro found himself named among the candidates for both positions, something that caught fans of both clubs off guard at the time.

It’s fair to say that neither were overly enthused by the idea of the Italian manager taking charge of their clubs, given who he’s managed so far.

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With stints as an assistant at Al-Ahli, then as a manager at Guangzhou, Al-Nassr, Tianjun Guanjian and China, both sets of fans were adamant he was not the man to take them forward, despite those in charge at Everton and Watford seemingly being convinced at one point.

They ultimately went different ways and left Cannavaro out of work, but he was happy to have just had the chance to talk to them.

“The idea, last year, when I stopped, was to start again from the beginning,” he told Sky Sports Italy.

“The fact that I had the opportunity to speak with the Polish national team, Everton and Watford, certainly made me very happy.

“The Polish national team is the one that, perhaps, with a little more time, I would have accepted. But preparing for a world qualification in two days seemed a bit short to me.

“I am having many offers from Arab and Asian countries, but the idea is to stay here.”