In an interview for the official show of the day, we caught up with Ramiro Funes Mori to talk about the good, bad and bad moments of his eventful career at Everton, and the Argentine defender explains why he will feel a close bond with Les Bleus for the rest of his life. . .
Ramiro Funes Mori’s exuberance is perfectly encapsulated in the false start for this very chat.
After tracking down the 32-year-old Argentine defender, who is now back at boyhood club River Plate, our scheduled call is postponed by the man himself at the 11th hour – after completely losing his voice following a 2-0 derby win over Boca Juniors the previous night.
Apologetic and evidently keen to relive his Everton experience, thankfully, he rearranges for a few days later.
“Thanks for calling, man. . . Please don’t do it to me,” Funes Mori replies, still a little hoarse.
How can we?
Come to think of it, few former players of the recent era conjure up photographs as brilliant as Funes Mori: from kneeling celebrations to barbecues in the harsh English winters and that famous match after a sending off in the Merseyside derby, all of which we will go on. cover.
But first, the beginning of the story. And it temporarily becomes transparent how much Funes Mori, or simply “Funes,” as he prefers, reflects on his time with the Blues.
“Well, that time, the day I signed for Everton, it was actually the happiest day of my life,” he insists. “I have sought to play in Europa. Es the dream of many South American children who grow up and look at it from afar. I was, and still am, very grateful to Everton for giving me this opportunity and showing me their confidence in me to play in the Premier League which, for me, is the most productive league in the world. The criteria are very high, as I have been able to see for myself.
“But it wasn’t just about the league, it was also about the club I was able to sign, Everton. You see, I grew up with River Plate. I know each and every one of the components of the club, the stadium and I even stayed there in the dormitories when I was a kid. Of course, there’s a part of you that’s not happy to leave, but the feeling that comes over you is that of opportunity. It was a wonderful chance for me to grow as a player and as a person.
“I came to a club as big as Everton. Finch Farm is a wonderful environment, where he had everything he could want to be more productive and everyone at the club wanted to help him. It’s the kind of thing you never forget. I surely enjoyed my time.
“Then there was Goodison Park, a stadium with a completely different vibe to all the other stadiums I’ve played in. . . The atmosphere, so many passionate people. Every game, in the freezing cold or in the pouring rain, appears for you, the other people are you every step of the way. It’s special.
It’s an intoxicating verbal exchange opening, full of returning emotions.
We’re just a few words away from the moment when that guy staying in River Plate’s dormitory steps in and takes over.
“I have to say something else. . . “, Funès interjects. My dream, as a kid watching the Premier League, was to score a goal and fall to my knees, you know?
“The courts are very rainy, very fast and every time I saw them, I enjoyed it. Honestly, it was a dream for me to celebrate like this! In Argentina, a lot of courts like that, not so rainy, so it’s become anything I’d dream of doing.
Unknowingly, and ahead of time, he’s jumped into one of the next topics on the agenda.
Funes notched five goals during an impressive maiden season with Everton, after completing his switch from the Buenos Aires giants in the summer of 2015.
The knee slide birthday party that followed each of those moves has something of a trademark about it.
The first of those goals came 8 years ago last week: a hard header to open the scoring in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, prompting Evertonians to coin a seasonal tongue-in-cheek chant of “Decorate the halls with Funes Mori”. cementing the defender’s cult hero prestige among the travelling Toffees.
“I enjoyed the connection with the Evertonians,” he reflects. Honestly, I think Everton enthusiasts are the best. You leave and every time our booth is full. They stick to their club and it’s an exclusive hobby they have. Then there’s a special atmosphere at Goodison Park where other people can make it more unlikely for other groups early on.
“I’m very grateful to the Evertonianos. Me showed a lot of love and all I tried to do was do the best I could for them, show them that I’m fit and willing to defend the royal blue colours.
Off the field, Funes Mori also attracts the attention of the fans. Evertonians are no strangers to social media and have noticed that their number 25 perpetuates their love for two Argentine traditions in particular, while living on Merseyside.
At most, he was never photographed without mate, a caffeinated South American herbal drink, and, more strikingly, without the barbecues in his garden, even in freezing weather, where, in his Everton shorts, he posted photos of himself preparing food. for his circle of family and close friends, adding fellow Argentines Sergio Agüero and Martín Demichelis of Manchester City and Marcos Rojo of Manchester United.
But it’s not all sunshine and lollipops. His hunger to impress Everton and his fans on the pitch have caused him problems at times, most notably when he showed a straight red card for a foul on Divock Origi in the Merseyside derby in April. 2016.
As he left the Anfield pitch that night, amid boos from the home fans, Funes Mori’s fighting intuition kicked in, as he grabbed the crest of his Everton shirt and swung it back and forth in a show of defiance.
“I mean, I’m sad,” she recalls. Derbies are other games, with the fans of both teams and the rivalry between the fans. I’m very aware of that and I enjoy it.
“However, the red card was a difficult moment. I don’t know what happened next. . . I didn’t do it to brag or offend anyone but, again, I think it’s about protecting the plate.
“I remember after the game the Chairman, Bill Kenwright, called me in to see him and I thought he was going to go mad at me, but he was very understanding and understood it was my passion that spilled over and a one-off. He was a great man and a great Chairman. I was very sad when I heard about his passing and I’d like to send my condolences to his family, friends and everyone who knew him.”
After an impressive first crusade on the English coast, in which Funes made 37 appearances in all competitions, plus thirteen for Argentina, an injury interrupted this positive trajectory the following season.
“I adapted to life in England pretty quickly,” he recalls. “Because I was in love with the Premier League from a very young age and I watched each and every game.
“I spoke with Roberto Martinez before joining Everton and he made me feel confident to be an important part of what was already a very good team, with players like Jags [Phil Jagielka] and John Stones playing in my position. There were so many great players throughout the squad, playing at the top level. I’m a person who likes to learn. I like to learn about other countries, cultures and ways of life, so even the rainy and cloudy days in Merseyside were great for me. I really enjoyed it.
“For me, it was easy to adapt because I had noticed a lot of that and knew what to expect, and I also spoke English, so I was able to talk to the coaches, my teammates and other people at the club. It made things a lot less difficult for me. I surely enjoyed it from the moment I arrived. I think my first year at Everton was the best, then I struggled a bit from injuries and lost a bit of momentum. The only regrets I have are the injuries.
In the summer of 2018 there was a reluctant move to Villarreal. Then, after three years in Spain, Funes traveled to Saudi Arabia and spent a year with the well-known Al-Nassr.
He spent last season in Mexico with Cruz Azul before, despite everything, returning to his first love at River Plate in July this year on a free transfer.
“I wanted to stay at Everton, of course,” reveals Funes. “I loved the team, the Club, the people at Everton, so it was a tough time when I had to move on. I was coming back from an injury but sometimes you know you have to let go. That was one of those times but it made it no less sad.
“Like I said, Everton gave me a lot and I fell in love with everything there. They will be in my heart.
“Since then I’ve had the chance to play in big leagues around the world, but I think the Premier League is the best, more wonderful than the Spanish La Liga, which is slower but the players are very technical. “Saudi Arabia was clearly another, but it was a wonderful opportunity for me and, as I said, I’m a user who can adapt to anything. Living in Saudi Arabia was a smart experience and I made a lot of friends. Now, you see, it’s a league that’s developing thanks to massive investments and some smart players have gone there. I think it will continue to grow.
In Mexico, Funes had the opportunity to play against his same dual brother, Rogelio Funes Mori. He continued, “I enjoyed it because I can challenge it. . . and kick it! Of course, we have a smart relationship. The floor is still there and then we’re brothers, but we have huge battles. I also played with him when we were together at River Plate, so it’s great to be able to enjoy both.
Upon rejoining River Plate, Funes was reunited with another former Blue in Solomon Rondon, the man jointly responsible for his worse-for-wear voice having scored the opener in a 2-0 win in the aforementioned victory over Boca.
“Of course I spoke to Solomon about Everton and he liked it,” he said. “He was only there for one year but, honestly, he enjoyed the club and the people around him. We talk a lot about Everton and our reports. There and now we also see a lot of Everton games combined, which is good.
“To be honest, I watch every single Everton game. Everton is part of my heart, that’s for sure. It’s been tough in recent years, but I think the manager has put the club back on track. ” correct. ” The Premier League is a very challenging league, each and every team is very smart, but I think Everton have smart players and they are similar, so I think they will start from here.