Kylian Mbappe used to maintain tabs on Everton due to former PSG team-mate Idrissa Gana Gueye – though Lionel Messi apparently wasn’t so eager.
Gueye left Everton for Paris in 2019, however by no means misplaced his affection for the Toffees and continued to root for them, at the same time as they battled relegation. The Goodison narrowly averted the drop in 2022, shortly earlier than the midfielder rejoined the membership for £8million.
The Senegal star was so dedicated to the Everton trigger, he even bought famous person striker Mbappe within the membership. However, one other team-mate, Julian Draxler, resorted to mockery (through the Liverpool Echo).
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“I remember Draxler, every time we lose, he would go, ‘You see your team, they are not good!’ and I would say, ‘We will survive’, recalled the 34-year-old. “So the day we survived towards Crystal Palace, he mentioned ‘You have been fortunate’ and I mentioned ‘I instructed you’. I instructed him to come back to Everton however he hasn’t listened!”
Gueye would regularly watch the Toffees on his phone, with PSG team-mates, including Mbappe, who has announced he is leaving PSG in the summer, also showing an interest.
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(Image: Getty Images)
“Mbappe, yeah he would watch,” mentioned Gueye. “He liked to watch every game. [Lionel] Messi, no. It was difficult for me because we were losing a lot and he would say, ‘Bro, come on, you see your team is losing and playing like this?’ But it was funny.
“I used to ship Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate and Jordan Pickford messages [saying], ‘Bro, please do it!’. It was essential for me to help and present I used to be there for him.”
After Everton avoided the drop, Gueye got the call from then head coach Frank Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell. Despite Everton’s challenges, the chance to return to Goodison was too much to resist.
(Image: AFP through Getty Images)
“They called me because they needed me and I said ‘I will come and help’,” he mentioned. “It would be easy if they were up at the top or even in the middle of the table, but if you love the club then you have to come in the bad moments.
“Lampard known as me, Seamus despatched me a message, Jordan too and I used to be a part of this staff even when I used to be in Paris. They requested me to come back assist and I mentioned ‘Let’s go!’. At first, I used to be like, ‘Why have you ever known as, I need to keep right here’ however they mentioned, ‘Yeah, however we’d like you’ and the one membership I may depart PSG for now was Everton, so we made the deal.”
Two years on, Everton are battling relegation again after being hit with a 10-point penalty for breaching financial rules.
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Gueye returned to Everton obligation earlier this month after enjoying on the African Cup of Nations, placing in a superb show to assist Sean Dyche’s staff earn a beneficial level towards Tottenham. Since then, the Toffees have been crushed at Manchester City and held to a house draw by Crystal Palace.
“I prefer really being at Everton playing at the top of the table, rather than fighting to survive,” admitted Gueye. “Everton needs to be preventing for the Champions League or Europa League.
“It hurts to see the membership on the backside of the desk. If they provide one thing again on the factors then good, if not then we simply should do our job on the pitch.”