Carlos Alcaraz knew his trip to Newcastle United could have been his last in an Everton shirt - he tells the ECHO how that inspired him to deliver a match-winning display
When the net bulged to silence St James’ Park, Carlos Alcaraz’s Everton future was on the line. It is a revelation that explains the joy in his celebration.
The noise that ended the intake of breath as 50,000 Newcastle supporters feared their Champions League dream was over was the eruption of emotion from the distant away end. They were already in love with Alcaraz. The 22-year-old was already in love with them.
After watching his glancing header bounce beyond Nick Pope he searched for the Blue shirts in the crowd before realising they were too far away and leaping into a Ronaldo-esque Siu celebration before being mobbed by his teammates.
Shortly after the final whistle, when asked whether he would seek to make Alcaraz’s loan move from Flamengo permanent, David Moyes told the ECHO: “You'll need to wait and see like everybody else.”
Almost three months later, the Argentine smiles as he tells the ECHO and reporters from other outlets who have gathered to preview the season with him that he, too, had to ‘wait and see’.
“I just went into that game like I had all the others, really, full of confidence and wanting to do my best for the club and for me,” the attacking midfielder explained as he reflected on what would become a significant day in his career.
He continued: “I came here in January knowing that everything was going to depend on me and my own performances. I was very calm about that because I am confident in my own ability.
"Even going into that final game, nothing had changed. I hadn't completed the match limit [Everton had an obligation to make the move permanent had he started nine games]. So I knew it was all going to be in the hands of the club.”
Alcaraz’s future had been a source of debate for weeks prior to the season finale. After an initial burst of form, which included his match-winning display at Crystal Palace, in which he created Beto’s goal and then scored himself to help Everton clinch a crucial win at Selhurst Park, he dropped from the starting XI as Moyes welcomed players back from injury.
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While his impact was immediate - and it continued with good spells in useful draws at Brentford and Wolves - it was clear Everton wanted to exercise caution as the focus moved from securing survival on to forward planning for another season in the Premier League.
When given the chance to shine after it became impossible for his performance clause to be triggered, Alcaraz seized it with both hands. Everton ended the campaign with three consecutive wins. He did not score in the 3-1 win at Fulham but was key to each of the goals in the comeback victory.
After playing a part in the emotional Goodison Park farewell, he then produced magic at Newcastle - a game he appeared to embark on with a personal zealotry, forcing two excellent saves from Pope before he met Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross.
He said: “Whenever I get a chance, or I've managed to score a goal for this club, I know how special it is both for me, because I know wearing this shirt I'm representing a club full of history, and I know what this shirt represents for the club and for the fans as well.
"I know how well represented we are with our fanbase, who travel away from home, they back us all the time, so whenever I get a chance to score - and it's a long season ahead, let's hope I get the chance to repeat this over the season - it was a great moment there and it was great to share it with those traveling fans up at Newcastle.”
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It did not take long for conversations between Everton, Flamengo and Alcaraz’s representatives to pick up after the season ended.
As he started the summer with a holiday, a deal for around £12.5m was signed - Everton taking up the headstart on negotiations afforded to them by the terms of the loan deal, which essentially gave the club the first option on the player. By May 31, just six days after he had downed the Magpies, Alcaraz was a Blue.
The news was welcome to a player who has spent the early stages of his career looking for a place to call home. Since emerging in his homeland with Racing, he has crossed continents, taking in Southampton, Juventus and then moving to Brazil, while trying to find a place where his talent can be honed.
He has found that at Everton. While the club may have used every day at their disposal to weigh up whether to sign him, a bond was forged between Alcaraz and the Everton fans in an instant. That is why he was so motivated to produce the end-of-season form that made him too-good to turn down in a summer of immense transition for his new club.
"I got the impression from quite early on that the fans [liked me]," Alcaraz said while thinking back to his early days in Royal Blue.
"They had shown their appreciation towards me and in particular my first game, where I managed to have an assist and scored a goal against Crystal Palace. That day they were singing my name and that was great, but I think they'd shown their love and appreciation before that in games.
"And whether it be at Goodison Park or away from home, the fans are absolutely fantastic and it's a two way thing because I very much appreciate their support as well and long may it continue into this season hopefully."