Pundit and former Aston Villa ace Gabriel Agbonlahor has expressed his fury with rumours linking Rafa Benitez with the Everton job.
Many commentators have criticised the Toffees’ interest in the ex-Liverpool boss, whilst many fans have made no secret of their discontent at the links.
Banners with crude statements were unfurled outside Goodison Park in a powerful statement of anger and disappointment at the prospect of a Benitez appointment.
Agbonlahor drew upon a similar experience in which former Scotland boss Alex McLeish switched from Birmingham City to arch-rivals Villa.
Speaking to Football Insider, the ex-England striker was baffled by the prospect of a Benitez appointment by the Blues:
“Where’s the loyalty in football?” questioned the pundit in an impassioned statement.
“It’s like when Alex McLeish came to Villa. I was fuming. He’d just been at Birmingham City, he’d just got them relegated then he came to Aston Villa.”
Drawing upon past precedent, Agbonlahor predicted riots at Goodison Park.
“As an Aston Villa fan, I was fuming. It didn’t sit right with me. There were Villa fans rioting and were outside the stadium in their thousands angry with Randy Learner.
“They’ll be the same at Everton. He won the Champions League with Liverpool, he had a successful spell for so long. It’s still in the mind of everyone on Merseyside.
“He himself should think ‘There are so many clubs in the world, why would I go ruin my legacy at Liverpool to go to Everton?’”
Read Everton Verdict
An Everton move for Benitez would be definitively tin-eared.
Despite the backlash and reports that Benitez is increasingly unsure of taking up the job, The Times report that Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is still convinced Benitez can lead the club forward.
Although results will ultimately speak for themselves, overcoming stigma and concern will be a near-insurmountable task.
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