Everton player unexpectedly told he has to go out on loan because his wages were ‘so high’

Kevin Mirallas has spoken about his departure from Everton and the treatment he received from ex-Blues and current Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The former Belgium international played 186 times for Everton, scoring 38 goals and providing 33 assists during his seven years at the club.

In an interview with DH Net, the winger described his exit and the treatment he received at the end of his Everton career.

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Mirallas claimed that Marco Silva informed him that he was part of his plans and even praised his efforts in training.

He said: “First of all, know that Fiorentina had already been interested in me before I went to Olympiacos. But I already gave my consent.

“The end of the 2017/18 season is approaching. I went on vacation, there were still contacts with Fiorentina. Everton’s new manager, Marcos Silva, told me: ‘Listen, you’re going to prepare with us and then we’ll see.’

“It didn’t change anything for me because I decided to do pre-season with Everton before I made a decision about my future: either I had done my time at Everton or I went on because I had two years left on my contract. .”

He then explained how he went in pre-season with Everton, performing well and showing in “everything”.

However, as the team returned to Goodison Park, Mirallas was informed that he was no longer part of Silva’s plans, with wages the main issue.

Mirallas was reportedly the fourth highest earner at the Toffees, earning £70,000 a week. Only Romelu Lukaku, Yannick Bolasie and Morgan Schneiderlin earned more than the Belgian at the time.

He said: “Pre-season went really well, I played everything. And a week before the start of the championship, the coach told me that I am not going to start, that I am not sure that I have my place. Which was not a problem for me.

“Except the next day, he called me again to say it was going to be complicated as my salary was so high, it was better to go with a loan. And from there, he became active with Fiorentina.”

From 2018, Mirallas was then loaned out to Olympiacos and Fiorentina before joining Royal Antwerp on a free transfer at the end of his contract in 2019.