Ben Guest
Carlo Ancelotti has addressed transfer rumours linking Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Everton as well as discussing Moise Kean’s ‘fantastic talent’.
Ancelotti’s move to Everton has prompted talk that Zlatan Ibrahimovic could follow him to Goodison Park, the pair having worked together successfully at PSG, with the 38-year-old said to be ‘interested’ in a reunion with the Italian.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of his first game in charge, Ancelotti teased the media by saying he will call the veteran forward about a trip to Liverpool, before insisting he would not be arriving at the club as a player.
“He is a good friend of mine and fortunately I have trained a lot of fantastic players,” he said.
“I think he finished his period in the United States and really I don’t know what his idea is. I am going to call him, if he wants to come to Liverpool to enjoy, he can come. But not to play, not to play!”
One player who could benefit from Ancelotti’s arrival could be Moise Kean, the young Italian having yet to make an impact in the Premier League since joining from Juventus for £27 million in the summer.
The 19-year-old is yet to find the net for the Blues and suffered the ignominy of being a substituted substitute during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Man Utd earlier this month. However, Ancelotti is confident of his countryman’s qualities, saying he will work with the youngster to make him ‘a better professional’.
“Kean showed fantastic talent for Juventus even if he didn’t play enough,” he said.
“He is 19 years old, for every player that change country, that change teams. Sometimes there is adaptation. We have to work on him to improve his quality to be a better professional. He has top quality.”
Ancelotti’s first game in charge of the Blues comes in the Boxing Day fixture against Burnley, Everton currently sitting in 15th on 19 points, four points above the drop zone.
Read – Best of the 2010’s: Five most influential Premier League signings this decade
See also – Best of the 2010’s: The top five football books of the decade