Abdoulaye Doucoure has been speaking about his former Everton team-mates and his summer options when he left the club
Abdoulaye Doucoure has backed Beto to come good for Everton. And the midfielder has revealed he had “a huge proposal” from a rival Premier League club this summer.
Beto has netted just once for the Blues in the Premier League so far this season and has been alternating up front with new boy Thierno Barry, who is yet to break his duck.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Doucoure said: “Defensively, the team hasn’t changed much. James Garner did so well at left-back. He can play everywhere.
“Everything seems to be in place. Jack Grealish adds a lot. (Kiernan) Dewsbury-Hall as well, I think the fans are going to love him as he’s such a good player. Iliman (Ndiaye) is always going to bring goals and assists.
“I’m a big fan of Beto. I know he can succeed because he has goals in him. The fans just have to be patient because it’s not easy for him. I spoke to him sometimes.
“There’s always been questions, but Beto has a strong mentality. He has had some very bad moments, came back and is the No 1 striker now.
“You have to have a strong mentality to play for the club and show personality.”
Joining from Watford for £20million in 2020, in the same transfer window that Everton snapped up James Rodriguez, Allan and Ben Godfrey, Doucoure made 166 appearances for the club and scored 21 times.
That included the decisive goal to beat Bournemouth at Goodison Park on May 28, 2023, which ensured the Blues avoided a first relegation in 72 years, despite posting the lowest equivalent points total in their history.
Doucoure, who now plays for newly promoted Saudi Pro League side Neom after leaving Everton in the summer, said: “Obviously, I knew my time would come to an end at some point because my wish was always to come to Saudi or the Middle East and I knew they (Everton) were trying to bring new players.
“I had the proposition on the table from Everton but the offer from Saudi was much higher. I had a lot of interest from the Premier League.
“I had a huge proposal from Sunderland as I knew the manager (Regis Le Bris), my former academy coach in France, very well. I had some interest from Leeds and Burnley.
“But if I was staying in England, Everton was my priority. So, I didn’t really give an answer to those teams.”