---
title: "Gabriel Agbonlahor Furious as Everton Linked with Benitez"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/gabriel-agbonlahor-furious-as-everton-linked-with-benitez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2021-06-24T06:15:00Z"
modified: "2021-06-24T06:15:00Z"
---

# Gabriel Agbonlahor Furious as Everton Linked with Benitez

Pundit and former Aston Villa ace Gabriel Agbonlahor has expressed his fury with rumours linking Rafa Benitez with the[Everton](https://readeverton.com/2021/06/23/virals-arsenal-linked-with-everton-talisman-dominic-calvert-lewin/) 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](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9699151/Angry-Everton-fans-protest-potential-Rafael-Benitez-appointment-banners-outside-Goodison-Park.html) 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,](https://www.footballinsider247.com/agbonlahor-everton-fans-should-be-fuming-with-latest-benitez-twist/) 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](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-benitez-advisers-tell-him-to-reject-everton-and-accept-newcastle-offer-instead/) of taking up the job, [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/everton-still-want-rafa-benitez-8q80093qh) 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.