Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has found himself in the middle of an awkward, albeit funny exchange with a journalist following PSV Eindhoven’s win over Emmen yesterday.
The Everton loanee was the star of the show in the 3-1 victory, scoring twice, in the 7th and 14th minutes of the game, to help his side progress in the KNVB Cup.
It meant he was the man everyone wanted to talk to post game, not only because it’s unusual to see a centre-bag bagging a brace.
ESPN reporter Hans Kraay Junior was lucky enough to do so, explain Voetbal International, discussing with the Everton man how he hasn’t scored much in his career, which so far has taken him from Carlisle, to Merseyside and now Eindhoven.
The journalist knows all about Carlisle, having visited there at some point in his life and an all-together unforgettable trip.
“You haven’t scored much in your career,” Kraay told the defender.
“But you played for Carlisle United. I went there with Brighton and then called my mum. Where are you, she asked. I’m at the end of the world. Is it a punishment to play there?”
This led the PSV man to ‘burst out laughing’ as he was forced to reply “not for me, it’s my birthplace”, a response which led Kraay to immediately apologise with a “sorry about that” and general ‘hilarity in the catacombs of the Phillips Stadium’ for anyone who managed to catch the exchange.
Fortunately it all appears to have been in good humour, at least, it seems the Everton loanee took it that way rather than being genuinely insulted.
He’s currently on loan at the Dutch side from Everton, even refusing the option to return to Goodison Park in January and fight for his place in the Netherlands.
PSV are more than keen on him and several reports in January made it clear that they were considering a permanent move, with a first offer even rejected.
That has been followed by Branthwaite admitting he will think about leaving Everton in the summer, when PSV are likely to be keen on exploring a permanent deal.
