When Everton appointed Rafa Benitez in the summer of 2021, it was a hire met with immediate backlash by supporters.
Rafa Benitez was a fan favourite at Liverpool, having helped them win multiple trophies, including the Champions League in 2005.
Benitez even called Everton a small club during his reign at Anfield, so he was on the back foot at Everton from the get-go.
After less than seven months in charge, Everton sacked the Spaniard in January 2022, with the club in a relegation battle.
Reflecting on his tenure, Duncan Ferguson has explained what Benitez’s biggest mistake was.
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Duncan Ferguson explains Rafa Benitez’s biggest mistake at Everton
Ferguson explained, in his new book, that he couldn’t believe Benitez sanctioned the sale of Lucas Digne to Aston Villa.
“His big mistake was getting rid of Lucas Digne, our best left-back,” the former Everton assistant said.
“They fell out, Mykolenko came in in January in 2022. But losing Digne to Villa, one of our relegation rivals, made it even worse. I hoped it wouldn’t come back to haunt us.”
Digne ended up becoming a key fixture in Villa’s defence that season and kept them up comfortably in the end, five points ahead of the Toffees.
The Frenchman is now a mainstay in Unai Emery’s side and has laid on a commendable seven assists this term.
Everton still in the market for a new left-back
Meanwhile, Everton are still in the market for a new left-back, having never really replaced Digne adequately.
Vitalit Mykolenko has improved lately, but Moyes still wants to provide competition for the Ukraine international next season.
The Toffees have been closely watching Dennis Cirkin, who is considered one of the best full-backs in the Championship with Sunderland.
Leicester City’s Victor Kristiansen is also a target for Moyes.
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