Meet the brand new Everton followers’ favorite CARLOS ALCARAZ who is flourishing on Merseyside with a bit assist from his Liverpool star good friend

There are times during a chat with Everton’s new fan favourite Carlos Alcaraz, aided by an impressive translator, that those in the room suddenly remember a bit of GCSE Spanish.

‘Loco, loco,’ says the Argentine who goes by ‘Charly’, prompting laughs, when asked about his first taste of the Merseyside Derby.

He had played 25 minutes – and very nearly scored – a few days before at home to Bournemouth but nothing could prepare Alcaraz for the emotionally-charged, ill-tempered atmosphere at Goodison Park after a famous last-minute equaliser against Liverpool.

‘Loco… loco,’ he says with a breath in between, which translates as ‘mad… mad’. He adds: ‘It was a mad derby, a crazy match. It was a pulsating game and, to say that was my first derby wearing this shirt, I really enjoyed it, it was a fantastic occasion.

‘I am really, really competitive and aggression is a part of my game. But I have other technical qualities as well. But what you will find when I pull on this shirt is that I just want to give my best. Very competitive and I give 100 per cent all the time.’

Alcaraz was clearly dazzled by the occasion of the Merseyside Derby – in a good way – and looked disorientated at full-time such was the roaring and visceral atmosphere. He backed it up in style by scoring on his first start, a winner at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

This 22-year-old has already had quite the journey in football, playing for Southampton, Juventus and Flamengo in Brazil before returning to England last month. It is very, very early days, but Everton look like they have hit the jackpot with this one.

He is only on loan but is keen to make that a permanent deal at the end of this season and he is settling in nicely, helped by winger Jack Harrison who speaks fluent Spanish after having a relationship with a woman from Costa Rica.

‘They are a great bunch of lads and everyone has helped me, but the first person I came across because of his great Spanish is Jack,’ adds Alcaraz. ‘We spend all the time together on and off the field and in training. We even share the odd mate (drink) together.

‘I didn’t introduce him to it. When he was at Leeds, he played under Marcelo Bielsa and the backroom staff there so he was used to having mate. It is just that I have got him back on it now!’

Alcaraz also has found a friend in Argentine colleague Alexis Mac Allister who, of course, plays for rivals Liverpool. The pair exchange WhatsApps and the midfielder, alongside Harrison, is helping Alcaraz settle, having moved here on his own.

David Moyes, the manager, has also been very helpful – though any Spanish skills he accrued during his stint at Real Sociedad have not stood the test of time.

‘He said, “Hola!” It is no problem because we have Jack!

‘No, to be fair, the manager speaks really slowly and clearly to me, his English is very clear, so I don’t have any problem. My English is good enough to follow when it is a team talk and it is directed to me or a group, but when it is two people chatting away that is more difficult.

‘The first thing he said was he had a lot of faith in me and that he would put his trust in me. Immediately that really calmed me, relaxed me, gave me confidence as well. I am really happy here.

‘I know what a big challenge it is playing here for Everton but I think the confidence from the manager, his coaching staff and my team-mates means I can do my thing, do my own stuff and prove who I am as a player.’

The 22-year-old loved life in Southampton but got his big move to Juventus, one of the former clubs of his idol Cristiano Ronaldo – perhaps a surprise answer given he is an Argentine. Many may have expected him to pick Lionel Messi.

‘I have always liked Cristiano despite being Argentinian,’ he adds. ‘Obviously Messi I think is the best player in the world. There is no doubt there. But I have always liked Cristiano.

‘I like his consistency, his dedication, his hard work, the way he has evolved and changed his style of play over the years. He has evolved to keep playing at the highest level. That celebration (at Palace) was just down to liking him so much, I always admired him.’

Alcaraz, of course, shares a name with the two-time Wimbledon reigning champion. Asked about the Spanish tennis ace, the midfielder says: ‘Yes I am aware of him, I have never had the chance to meet him and our paths haven’t crossed.

‘But he is a great player and I wish him all the best in his career. I am the sort of person who does not have to compare themselves to anyone in terms of their celebrity or fame. He has chosen his career in tennis, I have chosen mine in football.

‘It would be nice to be well known, but if things go well for the club and if they go well for me at the same time that is great.’

The tennis Carlos Alcaraz is starting to make a habit of winning the biggest trophies on offer. Everton have not won one of those since 1995 but with the new boy from Argentina – plus a new-found confidence under Moyes and a new stadium coming soon – the future is bright.