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Allan Wants Everton Career Pinnacle

Everton midfielder Allan is aiming for “the best season of my career” when the new Premier League campaign kicks off next week.

Moreover, the Brazilian insists he is entering 2021/22 with a heightened desire to achieve “great things” at Everton and inscribe his name in Club history following a stop-start debut season.

Allan played 26 times last term following a transfer from Napoli, where he arrived in the immediate wake of Rafa Benitez’s departure for Real Madrid in 2015.

The two men’s paths have eventually crossed at Goodison Park and a revitalised Allan is savouring his new manager’s wish for midfielders to move the ball with speed and purpose.

Additionally, Allan is profiting from a traditional pre-season after his 2020/21 preparations were squashed by an eve-of-campaign switch to Everton.

“It is so much better to have an entire month to work and prepare, as the first games are really important – but also with good preparation we will be ready to maintain a high level across the entire season," Allan told evertontv.


"I hope to have the best season of my career together with my teammates and we have been preparing very well towards this.

“I made the choice to come here last season and I'm really happy with my decision.

“I'm very proud to be where I am, where so many people dream of being; playing in the Premier League for a big club with a great history.

“I definitely want to make history here at Everton, nothing has changed in that respect.

“The desire to do even more, play more, look after myself more, to give my all on the pitch, has only increased.

“With the help of my teammates and the fans back in the stadium, we'll have a great season.

“It has been a great experience with the new manager.

“Mister Benitez has vast experience and won trophies in various countries.

“He's come with the big advantage of being able to raise our game, tactically and technically, and have a great season with us.

“When I arrived at Napoli, he had just left.

“My teammates spoke highly of him, a hard-working, dedicated guy.

Allan
I'm very proud to be where I am, where so many people dream of being; playing in the Premier League for a big club with a great history.


“Someone who was attentive to all parts of training and games. I hope we can achieve great things together at Everton this season.”

Allan began well with Everton and grew into an increasingly influential figure, with the player’s form earning him an international recall last November.

His progress was stalled, however, by a muscle problem sustained shortly before Christmas.

A two-month layoff amounted to a hefty dent in Allan’s campaign and ultimately left too much ground to make up to claim a place in his country’s squad for this summer’s Copa America.

The 30-year-old is now on a mission to regain his Brazil spot in time for next year’s World Cup in Qatar – and acutely aware there is only one way to mount an irresistible case for inclusion.

“I need to put in great performances for my club,” said Allan.

“I'll do everything to have a great season together with my teammates and the new manager, as I dream of playing in the World Cup for my country.  


“Last season, I had quite a lot of injuries which affected my continuity. This season, I hope I can have a good run of games alongside my teammates… that we can win as many games as possible and fight at the top of the table.

“A team with Everton's history, a big club, deserves to always be around the top of the league.  

“Personally, I'll continue doing what I've been doing, giving everything possible on the pitch and honouring the shirt on my back.

 “That's definitely something which can help me put my name into the Club's history.

“By the end of the season, God willing, we will have done great things as a team and on a personal level I can be back in a Brazil shirt.”

On his embryonic relationship with Everton manager Benitez, Allan said: “He is very active during training, always instructing the players to move and pass the ball better.


“For those of us in midfield, he always asks for us to keep it as simple as possible, two touches of the ball, always look to play forward... and to always have a compact line so we're prepared for all types of games.”

Allan added: “Now's the time to learn from everything that took place last season, so that this season I can be much better and we can have a much better season [as a team] and have many reasons to celebrate together.

“I have been dreaming of getting on to the pitch and seeing Goodison full of fans, getting behind us and helping us.

“Without a doubt it will be very different from last season.

“We lost a lot of games at home but I think we lacked that support and help and, undoubtedly, it will be totally different with the help of our fans.”