Amadou Onana arrived at Everton in the summer transfer window after impressing for Lille last season.
The midfielder’s displays for the Ligue 1 side helped him make his debut for Belgium in June. At the same time, it had also attracted interest from other clubs.
Everton were successful in winning the transfer battle in the end. The 21-year-old has been a regular under Frank Lampard’s orders and has made 14 appearances in all competitions, which includes 12 starts.
Onana’s performances for the Merseyside club have convinced Roberto Martínez to include him in De Rode Duivels squad for the 2022 World Cup. Het Laatste Nieuws interviewed the player and congratulated him on his latest call-up.
“There were several factors. I was charmed by the overall picture they presented me. Everton had a concrete plan. I also talked to the coach for a long time, and I immediately had a good feeling about it,” he said.
“He is a coach that suits me, who talks to his players a lot. It’s a privilege to learn from him. Look at the career he’s put together. He radiates so much. And don’t worry, he can still kick a ball, though. Playing against him would be a good test for anyone.”
This makes it clear the former Chelsea manager had a key role in Onana’s arrival at Goodison Park in the last window.
It’s not the first time the former Lille man has made this claim. Earlier this month, Onana had revealed that Lampard ‘seduced’ him to join Everton.