La Liga winner: This is why I didn’t join Everton in summer after reported negotiations
By Danny Wright
Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen has revealed that he didn’t join Everton in the summer because his club did not want to let him leave after he impressed them in the pre-season.
The Liverpool Echo reported in August that Everton and Barca had been in negotiations with one another on deadline day, however the La Liga titans decided against letting the Belgium international leave.
Vermaelen, 31, has now claimed that it was Barca’s choice to keep strength in depth in the defence that kept him at the Nou Camp.
“I don’t want to go into details,” he said to Sky Sports when asked about the Premier League side’s attempt to sign him.
“Barcelona always said they didn’t want to let me go. All big clubs need at least four centre-backs.
“They were happy with my pre-season and kept me.”
The former Arsenal centre-back joined Barcelona in 2014 but has suffered with a number of serious injuries which have seen his playing time seriously depleted.
He won the 2015/16 La Liga title with the Catalan giants, before he was shipped out on loan to Roma last season in order for him to get first-team football and try to get himself back to match fitness.
However Vermaelen only played 12 times across all competitions for the Italian side as he again suffered a number of setbacks.
The Belgian centre-back is yet to feature this campaign for Barca with both knee and muscle injuries keeping him in the treatment room.
In other Everton news, this Italian manager is eager to take charge at Goodison Park.
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