Football super-agent Kia Joorabchian has revealed Everton missed out on signing Bruno Guimaraes for a pittance. Newcastle United stumped up £35million to lure the Brazilian from Lyon last January.
A two-year stay in France saw Guimaraes enhance his reputation and earn a call-up to the national team. The 25-year-old still arrived on Tyneside as somewhat of an enigma but it did not take long for the Premier League - especially Toon supporters - to realise his talents.
Newcastle now boast one of the best midfielders in the division and, less than one year after his arrival, an improved contract has already been mooted. Guimaraes is the latest fans’ favourite at St James’ Park, with green and yellow Brazil flags emblazoned across the Gallowgate.
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However, world-renowned agent Joorabchian who shot to fame in 2006 during the Carlos Tevez transfer controversy, has disclosed how Guimaraes almost wore Everton blue instead of the famous black-and-white stripes. The 51-year-old was hitting back at Simon Jordan and Jim White over suggestions he has influenced the failed transfer policy at Goodison Park.
“In the past, we have offered them Bruno Guimaraes at £16million when he was leaving Athletico Paranaense,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT. “They didn’t like him and they went for Jean-Philippe Gbamin instead and Guimaraes went to Lyon.
“Diego Carlos when he was leaving Nantes, we offered him (to Everton) at £11million before he went to Sevilla and now he’s at Aston Villa. We offered them Eder Militao when he was leaving (Sao Paulo).”
“Of course, as we do, we offered him (Farhad Moshiri) many, many players, and they turned them all down. All the signings of the summer: James Tarkowski, Conor Coady, Neal Maupay, Dwight McNeil… they (Everton) did, were done purely by them and the board.
“We didn’t have any involvement whatsoever. We speak to all the owners, I speak to quite a few club owners but, the point is, what is our job? Our job is to present what we have as a client list.”
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