Everton’s Croatian summer signing Nikola Vlasic claims that the club were keeping shirt number 19 free for Diego Costa in a recent interview for 24sata.
The former Chelsea striker was heavily linked with a big money move to the Goodison Park last summer, as the Toffees were looking to fill current Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku’s position in the team’s starting line-up.
With Costa destined to leave Chelsea, many clubs were plotting a transfer for the Spanish international. The 29-year-old, however, wasn’t keen on moving on to a whole new club, and decided to return to his former team Atletico Madrid, despite being forbidden to play for the La Liga side until January. Everton on the other hand ended up signing Wayne Rooney and Sandro to bolster their attack.
Vlasic says he was very keen to get the number 19 shirt to use himself, but that was apparently being held on for Costa, so he had to go with number 27 as number 8 was also taken.
“No.27 was free, I wanted 8 but Ross Barkley wears it, while the club was keeping 19 for Diego Costa.”
– Nikola Vlasic, 24sata via (Goal.com)
Chelsea face Vlasic’s Everton tonight on the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge.
