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Finding it difficult to convince Ronald Koeman he was the right man for the job down the wing at Everton, Gerard Deulofeu had to look elsewhere in January to try and get some game time.

The 23-year-old quickly became a target for AC Milan, who, after a lot of ups and downs, managed to secure a loan deal for the Everton winger, and the Spain international is currently thriving in Italy.

Deulofeu is impressing so much, in fact, that Julian Lopetegui couldn’t ignore him for his latest Spain squad, and the Everton loanee is only grateful for the opportunity the Serie A side and their manager Vincenzo Montella have given him.

He told the press, relayed by AS: “I’m very happy in Italy with the support of the staff and my teammates. I’ve learned how to live in the present in football. I’m happy at Milan. I hope to end the season well and the rest, we’ll see.

“I didn’t doubt it when Milan were interested in me. The trust they put in me was key for things to be going well now. I’m at a good level, working well. I’m a bit surprised to be here, but I was already preselected. If I hadn’t gone to Milan, I wouldn’t be in the team.”

Of course, with things going so well away from Everton, questions about his future were asked, including a potential return to Barcelona, who have a buy-back clause in the player’s contract with the Toffees.

He said, relayed by Sport: “They’re a big club, but if I think about that, I could get distracted. It’s nice to here good things, but what’s important is to think about the present. Think beyond that is the wrong way to go.”

Clearly a return to Barcelona is something the Everton loanee wouldn’t be against, but there’s still a large chunk of the season to go.