Banega explains Toffees snub

Banega: Not finished with Spain

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Ever Banega says he turned down Everton as he still had things to learn in Spain.

The Argentine international was a target for The Toffees during the window, and they even went as far as getting a work permit approved for him.

But he instead opted to stay with Valencia, where he has started the season in the first-team.

"I feel that I am more mature now and that I still have many things to learn and show in Spain, that's why I decided not be transferred to the English league," said Banega - who spent last term on loan at Atletico Madrid.

"It was me who didn't want to leave, I wanted to continue because I think in having a place in the team and I want to continue in that way.

"Besides what is said about me, I think about my team and about being a good team mate, look at the unity that our team showed last weekend on the pitch and I hope that it all continues in this way.

"You must know when you can do certain things and when you can't. Thanks to the support of important players I am more mature, I am learning many new things and that's good for me and for the team."

Failure to offload

Valencia may have wanted to offload more players during the summer, but the desire of Nikola Zigic, Miguel and Banega to stay at Mestalla meant they could not.

Los Che did see Raul Albiol, Curro Torres, Fernando Morientes, Edu and Miguel Angel Angulo leave and had hoped to raise funds by selling one or more of their fringe players.

Everton were keen on Banega and Miguel, while several English clubs were reported to have made enquiries about Zigic only for the striker to insist he was not going anywhere.

Now Valencia's sporting director, Fernando Gomez, has revealed that as the players dug their heels in the club were left with little time to persuade them to go.

"There were opportunities, but the market closed too soon, there have been very few sales and many more loans, this makes it harder to find players an exit," Gomez was quoted as saying by Marca.

"Miguel and Zigic had offers, but Nikola did not want to leave, like Banega who wanted to stay here. The offers for Miguel came too late and he preferred to stay."