Everton attacker Iliman Ndiaye has jumped to praise two of his club teammates in a recent interview while on international duty.
The Senegal international has enjoyed a bright first season on Merseyside after signing from Ligue 1 club Marseille last summer.
Nine Premier League goals in 33 appearances means he finished the season as Everton’s top scorer ahead of strikers Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Jamie Carragher was wowed by Iliman Ndiaye’s performances for Everton this season, admitting the 25-year-old is ‘fantastic’. Everton fans will hope that he can push on under Moyes next season, hopefully with new attackers to give him better opportunities to find the back of the net.
While Ndiaye receives praise from all avenues, the attacker has taken the time to hail two Everton players who made his start to life on Merseyside much easier, including one he is adamant could be captain of the Toffees in the future.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Iliman Ndiaye praises Everton teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye
Despite being 35, Idrissa Gana Gueye has proven that age is just a number, and he is still more than capable of playing at the highest level.
The midfielder, who rejoined Everton for £2m in 2022, is out of contract this summer, but it is believed that Gueye has signed a new contract at Everton, which would keep him on Merseyside for at least another year.
That news will be much to the delight of Ndiaye, who is currently on international duty with Gueye.
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In a pre-match press conference, Ndiaye was asked about Gueye and his influence at Everton.
“He speaks a lot and he makes the game much easier,” he said.
“Everybody sees him, everybody knows him, he is captain material. He pushes the team forward and all the players so it is a really good contribution to the game.”
Iliman Ndiaye shares appreciation for Everton legend Seamus Coleman
On Friday night, the Republic of Ireland faced Senegal in an international friendly, where there were three Everton players present. Ndiaye and Gueye for Senegal, while Jake O’Brien represented Ireland.
If the game had taken place a few years ago, there is a chance Seamus Coleman would have been in the Ireland squad for it.
Like Ndiaye, Coleman is out of contract this summer but there is no indication that he will sign a new deal with the Toffees, meaning his 16-year Everton career will likely be over.
Everton fans chanted about Coleman during the final game at Goodison Park, where he walked the team out at the iconic ground one last time.
While he was not present for the game, Ndiaye still took the time to hail Coleman for his help at the club.
“We have a very good relationship, he welcomed me kindly when I first arrived and has facilitated my arrival at the club,” he said in the same press conference.
“It has made the start – and the end of my season, actually – be better,”
“We have spoken a lot. He has given me a lot of advice, about the town, about the fans, and it has made things much easier for me.”