Long Read: Alcaraz On ‘Argentine Spirit’ & Desire To Fight For Blues

In an interview that first appeared in the Official Matchday Programme for the visit of Manchester United, Charly Alcaraz sits down to discuss the early days of his career back in Argentina, the welcome he has received at the Club, and the backing from passionate Evertonians… 

Only four weeks have passed since his deadline-day move to Goodison Park, but Charly Alcaraz is already settling in well to life on Merseyside. 

Aside from the obvious culture shocks, such as the recent bitterly cold weather and the local Scouse accent to fully master, the Argentine seems very much at ease with his new surroundings.

“I don’t know the city very well, but based on the few things I’ve seen on social media or what people have told me, it’s a very nice city and I’m looking forward to moving into a house so I can go out and explore Liverpool,” says Alcaraz as we sit down in the lobby of his city hotel to discuss his whirlwind start in royal blue.

“It’s a bit difficult, the English I hear here is a bit complicated but if you speak to me slowly, I understand a lot. Then, as everyone saw in the video I did for social media, I find it a bit difficult to speak, but it’s going well.” 

The social media video Alcaraz refers to is his heartwarming post-match evertontv interview alongside Jack Harrison after the 22-year-old midfielder – on his full debut for Everton – set up Beto’s opener and then hit the late winner in the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace, extending the Blues’ unbeaten league run to five matches under manager David Moyes.

Following his loan arrival from Brazilian side Flamengo last month – which Alcaraz hopes will become permanent – the former Southampton man has struck up a close friendship with Harrison, who speaks Spanish to a high standard courtesy of his Costa Rican girlfriend.

So after Alcaraz’s heroics at Selhurst Park – his winning goal being created by Harrison – there was no better duo to turn to for their post-match reaction – and the Argentine is grateful for the support from the winger both on and off the pitch.

“Jack has helped me because he speaks Spanish very well, he tells me that he wants to practise with me,” says Alcaraz with his already-familiar beaming smile.

“Really, he is a great lad, he is a great player so, to be honest I am very grateful to him more than anything else for helping me in this, which is the beginning of my time at Everton.”

Throughout the interview at the city-centre hotel where he is based for now, there are two recurring themes Alcaraz is keen to mention. Firstly, he repeatedly highlights the role of everyone at the Club in helping him to adapt to his new surroundings and giving him the confidence to go out and play.

His good start to his spell at Goodison Park? That’s down to the confidence and affection his teammates and boss Moyes have shown him in his first few weeks here.

“It’s been a great start, but that start is also based on the confidence my teammates give me on a daily basis, in training, with the warmth I have received from them, so really it’s been very nice,” he says.

“With that affection, with that confidence that my teammates give me, I will continue to try to show my game and hopefully things will continue to go well for me, but, more importantly I hope things go well for the Club. 

“Moyes is a great person, he’s a great manager, he gives me and my teammates a lot of confidence, but maybe more so for me as the last player to arrive in a team that is already set up. He has given me a lot of confidence, as have the coaching staff and obviously my teammates. He’s a great person and we’re very happy to have him back at Everton.”

The other regular talking point was Alcaraz’s heartfelt gratitude to those who have helped his career so far: from first team Racing Club in Argentina, to his year’s experience in the Premier League with Southampton, followed by spells with Italian giants Juventus and also Flamengo.

That appreciation includes Lisandro ‘Licha’ López, who made 232 appearances across three spells for Racing Club, with the second of those coinciding with Alcaraz’s time coming through the ranks and making his first-team debut. 

Alcaraz used a number of celebrations after his first goal for Everton, including the iconic ‘sui’ of his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, and the letter ‘M’ for his girlfriend. 

However, it was his right index finger on his forehead and his outstretched left arm that mimicked Licha’s celebration. 

“I celebrate that way for him,” reveals Alcaraz. “When I was at Racing, in my early days of training, in pre-season and so on, maybe it was very difficult for me to adapt because I was still young. 

“Licha was always like a father to me in training, he always tried to help me, to give me advice. He was a great player, but, first and foremost he was a great person for me, so I try to repay his affection by doing his celebration.” 

That gratitude is also on display as Alcaraz speaks about growing up in Argentina. Hailing from La Plata in Buenos Aires province, an hour’s drive from the city of Buenos Aires, the ball-carrying midfielder was a keen footballer from a young age, starting off at Villa Elisa in his neighbourhood, where his father Carlos, who also played football at a competitive level, was a manager. 

In 2017, he made the move to Avellaneda, separated from the city of Buenos Aires by the Riachuelo River, to sign for Racing Club, one of Argentina’s ‘big five’. Although 

Alcaraz needed time to settle at the academy, he went on to make his first-team debut in January 2020, having recently just turned 17. 

“My father was a footballer for years in a club in the neighbourhood, he played for Cambaceres, a competitive club, so my father always instilled in me to be a footballer,” reflects Alcaraz on his upbringing.

“From the age of four I liked to play football so when I was a little boy, I started playing at a club where my father was the manager. I played with him and my friends from the neighbourhood, many of who remain my friends today.

“When I joined Racing it was very different because it was a different style of play with different kind of people. It was very difficult for me to adapt because I was used to a different way of playing compared to a professional club. But, luckily, I was able to do the things I like to do, which is to play football. And today I live from that thanks to them. 

“I had the opportunity to make my debut for Racing. I am very grateful to them for that because they trusted me at such a young age and gave me my first steps in my professional career.”

Aside from his abilities on the ball, after just three appearances Evertonians have already seen one attribute that truly characterises the Argentine: his passion on the pitch.

Even in the early stages of his time on Merseyside, Alcaraz knows full well how much that is valued by Evertonians.

A familiar quality with two other Argentines to have played for the Blues in Denis Stracqualursi and Ramiro Funes Mori, Alcaraz believes it is a typical trait of players from his homeland – partly due to the physical nature of the South American leagues – and one he wishes to show much more of as an Everton player.

“Both at Racing and Flamengo, everyone wants to battle against everyone else,” reflects Alcaraz. “It’s very physical which is something I like. When it was time for me to come to Everton, I tried to include that in my game, and I think that’s what I like the most, too.

“I think we Argentine players have a different spirit to the others, which is to always want to win, win and win. Maybe I’m speaking for myself now, but I have a very, very competitive spirit. I always like winning, I don’t like losing, so as I said the first time when I arrived at Everton, when I put on this shirt, I’m going to do my best so that things go well for the Club, so that things go well for me. That’s what I want to say to the fans, that I hope to continue the legacy made by Stracqualursi and Funes Mori and show people that we Argentines always want to win.” 

Despite being only 22, Alcaraz has already played for clubs across four different countries and two continents, experiencing different cultures and fanbases along the way.

Tasting the unbridled last-gasp drama of the 2-2 draw in Goodison’s final Merseyside derby before sampling the Club’s loyal and fervent away support for the first time at Palace, the Toffees’ number 24 has been blown away by Evertonians’ backing.

And that has included a chant with his name, to the tune of Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band. 

“I’m very grateful they came down to support us in London and what they give home and away,” smiles Alcaraz. “You can really feel the love the Everton fans have for the Club, for the shirt and that makes them a great fanbase.

“I heard the chant during the match and it filled me with a lot of pride because it was my third match, my first as a starter. I had those nerves and that desire to do things well. 

“So to hear the fans singing my chant during the match, and then when the match finished, they sang it again, it was a very nice moment and it made me very proud. Hopefully that will be a breakthrough for me and for Everton from here on out for the rest of the season.” 

Although Alcaraz is on loan with a Club option to buy, his focus for now remains to keep impressing for the remainder of the campaign.

“I try not to think too much about the loan, the objectives and so on,” he adds. “I try to keep a cool head, to be patient, but I know that if I do things right, things will take care of themselves.

“It would be great to stay here because the Club, the institution, the fans... they’re great. It’s very crazy but that’s why I’m very calm and will keep doing the work I’ve been doing and show what type of player I am.”