I Love You All

He was only with us a season and due to injury we only saw him a handful of times, but anyone who knows anything about football could see that Matteo Ferrari was a class apart. Now back in his native Italy with Roma, Mat still looks for the Blues results, keeps in contact with friends at Everton, and would dearly love to meet the Blues in the future in Europe. In one short year, he found out what it is to be an Evertonian describing us as part of the family. Matteo we know what you mean. You keep your side of the bargain, and hopefully the Blues will keep theirs, and we will meet up in Europe next season.

Matteo says: "Everything is going well for me. We are having a good season. We are still in all the competitions we are eligible for this season. We are high in the league and still in the Champions League. I have been playing a lot of football but I have to say that my time at Everton was a very important experience for me. I experienced football in a different country at a very good club but, unfortunately, it wasn't everything I wanted it to be thanks to the two serious injuries I had. Those injuries meant I wasn't able to enjoy the experience fully.

I still speak to a few of the players but I have many friends at Everton. The club is one that I think is very special and I believe they can do very well this season. I am grateful to be able to wish them all the best and it would be nice if we both met in Europe next season. I would have loved to have given my maximum contribution to the Everton cause - it wasn't the case that during my time in England I was thinking about coming back to Italy. I just wanted to focus on the football. I found at Everton a club that was like a family and I felt very welcome and accepted from the first day.

Everybody at the club helped me to get used to life in England and the players were great helping me when I was injured. It was a good group to be a part of and that helped me. Because of the way things happened at the end of the season I didn't feel I got the proper opportunity to say thank you to the club and to the fans - the supporters were very good with me. They were kind, they supported me and they gave me encouragement. I wish I could have done more to repay them on the pitch. I am glad I have this opportunity now. Every Saturday I look for the results because I feel the club is special for me. It is great to see the team doing well. Playing in England has helped me as a player because it is a different kind of football. The main reason I am playing regularly now is because I feel good physically and if I had felt the way I do now during last season I think I could have made a very good contribution to the team." (23/11/06)

Explanation

Moyesy has explained that he let cultured defender Matteo Ferrari go, as he has other irons in the fire. The Italian defender has returned to Roma, but Moyesy did have the option of forking out around £3.5m for him but has decided not to. Instead he has offered contracts to Davey and Stubbsey, and Joey is in protracted negotiations over his new contract. The alternative Moyesy has in mind is Joleon Lescott of Wolves, but a few other clubs are said to be interested. Building for the future, sometimes its hard to stomach that saying, why can't we just say we have not got a pot to piss in !!

Moyesy says: "I've got other alternatives at the moment. That's why I decided not to pursue it. There might be a new one coming in." (12/05/06)

I'm Yours If You Want Me

Matteo Ferrari has given his biggest hint yet, that if Everton offer him a worth while contract, he will be delighted to stay on with the Blues. Moyesy however is now getting the oppurtunity to play Matteo in his favoured centre half position, but strangely opted for 30 odd year old Davey Weir against Chelski on Monday. Many see Joey and Matteo as the centre half pairing to take the club forward, but Moyesy has his own ideas. Matteo ominously left a warning, that if Everton only offer another loan deal, he will have no hesitation in returning to Roma.

Matty says: "There is a big question mark against my future and I sincerely still don't know where I will be playing next season. But because we are at the end of the season something needs to be done. If Everton want me or just want to extend my loan for another season I think it is time to start to think about that. I would like to know where I will play next season. The only thing I know for 100 per cent is that I have a contract with Roma and if nothing happens then I will go back.

The main issue is that I would like to prove I am a Premiership player. I have not really had this chance so I would like to have next season as well. My future is not just up to me, there are a number of parties to consider, but I know what I would like.

We don't have many games left to play but I would like to play as often as possible to show what my game is all about. I just want to make it clear to all those people that have shown confidence in me that I am a good player. It has been a frustrating season because as a player to give the best of yourself you just need to play four or five games in a row but for a number of reasons, mainly because of injuries, I have not had the chance to show what I am fully capable of as a player. It has been an unfortunate season. Over the last five seasons I have played the vast majority of games for the clubs I have been playing for. This is the first time I have not been able to play because of injuries and that has been upsetting. In the beginning I needed a few months to adapt but after that I felt I settled very well in England and enjoyed the games I played in. I have also enjoyed the English way of life and living in Merseyside. For this reason it is upsetting that the injuries happened in the wrong moment for me." (18/04/06)

Moyesy Optimistic To Make Move Permanent

Everton have an option to make Mat an Everton player full time. Moyesy Is hopeful that the Italian international will stay despite only playing only 12 times for the first team.

Moyesy says: "The word I am hearing is yes, he wants to stay." (11/04/06)

Chance To Shine

Moyesy aims To Give Mat a chance to steak a claim for a contract by letting him have a few games before the end of the season.

Moyesy says: "Matteo was on the verge of getting a run in the team after Christmas but he got injured against Arsenal just after Stubbsy had come back. His injury set him back. But he has been fit now for a week or so and he's about the squad. Hopefully we will get a chance before the end of the season to see him again.

We won't be discussing any of that (new contracts) until the end of the season. But Matteo is a good player. He is a good defender. We are just disappointed that we haven't been able to see a bit more of him than we have done but we're hoping that in some of the games before the end of the year, he'll get an opportunity. You have to remember that we got Matteo late on, so he hadn't done any pre-season training with us. It's only fair he gets the opportunity to show what he can do." (06/04/06)

Back For The Derby

Mat has been back in Italy trying to recover from an unusual injury that has seen him be involved in only one of the last seven games. He is due to be available for the Derby game, but by then it could be too late for him to impress Moyesy to give him a full contract at the end of the season.

Basil says: "I think everybody saw the Arsenal game where he had that fall and injured a nerve at the back of his ham-string. He played against Chelsea in the FA Cup and he had been training but he still had a few symptoms in his hamstring so to be fair to him we have said, 'let's get you right'.

He is having a couple of weeks off and we are getting the thing totally sorted. He is making very good progress and I don't anticipate him being out too long. I've never seen an injury like it. It was mainly the nerve that was damaged but full credit to him, he stepped in when needed against Chelsea and got through the game okay. Even though he trained a couple of days after it wasn't pain-free and I think we have got a few players back now so we want to make sure Matteo is okay and feels 100% so he can give his best for the team." (08/03/06)

Monday

We are going to have to wait until Monday before we know how long Matteo will be out for. With Alan Stubbs cup-tied the very promising Mark Hughes could be in line for his debut.

Bazza Rathbone says: "Matteo seems not so bad. Obviously it is difficult to assess directly after the game but we have watched it on the video a few times and he really over stretched his hamstring.

"He has obviously sustained some damage to the nerve but that damage does not look particularly serious. We are just not sure if he has tweaked his hamstring at the same time. We will let it settle down over the weekend and have a look at him on Monday morning.

"He has got full strength and power so I don't think he has got a serious nerve injury. But he could have tweaked his hamstring. We are hopeful it will be a minor injury." (22/01/06)

Staying

The very handsome Matteo is hoping that he stays at Goodison next season. We want you to stay Mat

Mat says: "It's good here, very good. I spoke with the manager and I told him that I would be happy to stay here. I would like to prove myself in the Premiership. It is very stimulating to be in a different league and trying new things. But obviously because I am on loan here, it is not up to me what will happen. I will continue to give 100 per cent for Everton and help us finish as high as possible. At the end of the season, we will have a meeting.

"It won't be just down to me to decide. It will be the manager, the chairman and then everyone at Roma. They are the ones who will decide but right now I am very happy here and enjoying myself."(20/01/06)

Happy Boss

Moyesy was happy with Mat. If this continues will he give him a contract in the Summer and will Mat want one. Stay tuned!

Moyesy says: “I thought Ferrari looked a little bit nervous in the opening stages but the longer the game went on, the better he got. He played really well for us.” (15/01/06)

Impressed

Ferrari started against both Charlton with Weir and Millwall with Yobo. Moyesy was impressed.

Moyesy says: "Matteo has been fine. He had a couple of games at the start of the injury and then got an ankle injury that kept him out for about eight weeks but he is now back and doing okay. We have got him on loan so we can have a good look at him between now and the end of the season to see if we want to take that further. It also gives the supporters the chance to see him as well. (14/01/06)

Chance For Run In Team

Having tasted playing for the first team in the last few games, Mat is hoping to continue in the team and secure a full time contract, regardless what his agent says. (See below). With Joey Yobo leaving for the African Nations Cup for a month, he has a great chance to cement a place in the team.

Mat says: "The last two weeks have been very important because I have been able to play in the position I prefer, which is in the centre of defence. I have appreciated the chance to play in my natural position. Because Joe is going to the African Nations Cup we have three players for two places so there is still competition but that is good. You need competition to play in your preferred role.

David Weir and Per Kroldrup are both good players. It is up to the players to show they deserve their place in the formation. Who is fitter and in best form will play and that is right, that is fair. Obviously I had seen games on television but when you get out on to the pitch you have a better idea of the difference because you can only have one or two touches of the ball before you are pressed by the opponents. It is really quick - more than I expected." (13/01/06)

Arriverdci Matteo

Matteo Ferrari will definitely be on his way back to Italy this Summer after failing to settle at Goodison. The defender who looked decent until injury struck him down earlier in the season, is chomping at the bit to rejoin his old club Roma.

Matteo's Agent says: "Matteo is a Roma player and he will return in June. He should never have left." (12/01/06)

Praise

With Joey off to the African Nations it must have been pleasing to David Moyesy just how well Matt played. He looked the business.

Moyesy says: "Ferrari played well today and got better. He must have felt under a little bit of pressure because we've not been doing well at the back. He's had to come in and play in there and he has helped." (03/01/06)

Back In Ten Days

Matteo Ferrari is making good progress from his ankle injury but chief physio, Mick Rathbone is pleased with his progress. Rathbone says: "Matteo Ferrari has been running hard and I would say he is maybe 10 days away so we are very pleased with him as well. In fact, the whole department in terms of injured players is going very, very well." (22/11/05)

Not Another One

Matteo Ferrari is the latest left back to find himself on the treatment table this season. With Nace, Pisto, and Nuno all nursing long term injuries, the Italian was ready to make the place his own, till he hobbled out of the Carling Cup defeat before half time. Basil Rathbone thinks it unlikely that he will make the Brum game, and the players are tomorrow having a sweep to see who plays in the cursed left back position.

Basil says: "I think he will be a big doubt for the weekend. He has gone over on his ankle and simply sprained it. It is Thursday now and with a game coming up on Saturday afternoon you would have to say that at this stage he is rated doubtful." (28/10/05)

Rome Sick

Matteo Ferrari, Everton's on loan signing from Serie A side Roma, is hoping that his performances at the Blues will improve his chances of getting back into the Roma starting eleven next season. The defender who came on for Nuno Valente in the draw against Chelski has look more and more accomplished with every Everton outing. Sod Rome Matt, don't forget this is the European Capital of Culture. Italy is yesterday's news.

Matteo says: "After this season I have another two years of my deal with Roma. I have the idea to come back and to show who Ferrari is but, if I am welcomed like I was in the past season, for me it would be really hard. In Rome, I'd lost my serenity. I don't want to put that responsibility on anyone, I've been wrong, too, and I think I have paid for that. I'm really sorry for how things went with Roma. I wanted to show the real Ferrari. In Merseyside, I'm coming back to myself. Maybe there would be a new chance." (25/10/05)

Mind Your Language

Matteo Ferrari is hoping that if he improves his English, it will increase his chances of cementing a first team place in Moyesy's squad. Matty who is yet to sample the first team, is away with the squad on UEFA Cup duty, and is hoping his years of European experience will help him find a way into Moyesy's first eleven.

Matty says: My englis is ok at the miment. Iv I speke bitter englis, I cen imprev me chances of hulping Verton to groat thongs. I em lustening to meny Bootles mesic, as I em a groat fen ov tear tunes, thus is hulping me a let."

Matty Really says: "I have already played in the UEFA Cup competition five times in my career so I will do my bit to help the team on Thursday. I am working hard on improving my English because if my English was good I think I would be able to give some good advice to the team. Communication is also very important in my role as a central defender and I am doing my best to learn the technical terms to help me when I play in the team.

Playing in a different country will help me a lot as a player and hopefully improve me technically. I really like the environment of the first team. And now I am looking to see how the results go on the pitch and see how things go for me playing in the team. I have played in Serie A for six years so I am experienced in the role of centre-back. Although English football and the English style is slightly different from Italian, I don't believe it will be a problem for me to adapt."

Of course the World Cup is important but at the moment I am in Liverpool and focused on playing for Everton. But obviously, having had experience of playing in the national side in Italy I would be pleased to go back to play at that level." (14/09/05)

Goal On Debut

Matty got a first look at reserve team football at a windy Haig Avenue tonight, but took to it like a local. He played at the centre of the defence and came forward (a la Deggsey Mount) on a few occastions. He scored after a scramble, but it was not given. He had a header that just missed the upright & scored with a cracking looping volley that made the score 1-1 against Leeds. He looked the part, very fit and classy. Moyesy watched him.

Moyesy says: "He did very well tonight, it was great that he was able to come in and play so well with the young kids and of course he scored a lovely goal. I was pleased because he took it very well. " (31/08/05)

One Year Loan Deal

The 25 year old defender has been with Inter, Genoa 1893, Lecce, Bari, Parma & Roma. He has signed on a one year loan deal.

Moyesy says: "We've lost Per Kroldrup with a hernia operation so we're a bit short of defenders. Matteo coming in on loan can play at full back if required and will bolster the squad a little bit. He's not a natural left back, we're hoping to bring a left back in before the deadline, but he may be able to do that in a one-off game."

Matteo says: "I am very happy because I am a fan of English football and when I was in Italy I always watched English football on TV. I am very glad to be here because Everton showed so much confidence in me and so that is why I am happy to be here." (26/08/05)

Full First Team Squad