Carlos Alcaraz capped his final Flamengo appearance with a goal in the 2-0 Campeonato Carioca win over Sampaio Correa on January 31. Those in attendance at the game would not have known it then, but it was a parting gift at the end a short six-month stint at the Rio de Janeiro club.
Even at that stage, the direction of travel was clear behind the scenes. Everton had agreed a deal in principle for the midfielder with the Brazilian club — the following day Alcaraz took the unusual step of publicising the move before it had properly been completed.
Late on Monday, some 72 hours later, Alcaraz formerly of Southampton and Juventus, became Everton’s only signing of the window and the first under both new owners The Friedkin Group (TFG) and manager David Moyes. A late complication over an insurance clause meant the clubs required extra time after the 11pm deadline to get the deal over the line.
There is always a temptation, from supporters and media alike, to read into the symbolism of such milestone moves. To look for clues as to what the first addition of a new era means for recruitment and playing style moving forward.
But rather than a poster boy for Everton’s new era under TFG and Moyes, Alcaraz looks like being a low-risk piece of opportunism for a club still working its way through profit and sustainability rules issues.
The January window was one in which Everton encountered unique circumstances. TFG’s takeover was only completed just before Christmas and Moyes replaced Sean Dyche as manager, at short notice, midway through the following month.
Everyone at the club is still working out where they fit into the new setup, and the majority of due diligence on potential signings was done by director of football Kevin Thelwell and his recruitment team.
Alcaraz playing for Juventus last season (Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Alcaraz was a long-standing target, tracked since his early days in his native Argentina with Racing Club and before he made the move to Southampton in January 2023. Industrious, versatile and a direct threat in the final third, he was seen as an ‘Everton type’.
Yet few on Merseyside would have initially imagined he would become available just months into his time at Flamengo.
The 22-year-old was meant to be the Brazilian club’s marquee addition, a record purchase at €18million over the summer. At that kind of money, he was expected to be Flamengo’s star player, yet he quickly found himself down the pecking order in midfield. He started eight of their 15 league games at the end of last season, but only one of their last four.
This season, he has featured just once — Thursday’s farewell in the Campeonato Carioca — but Flamengo started the campaign in a local cup competition and used their under-20 squad for the opening five games.
The lack of opportunities forced the player and his representatives to act.
“Alcaraz called me on Thursday to talk and told me about Everton’s offer,” Flamengo head coach Filipe Luis told a press conference last week. “He asked if I was counting on him. I said that he was behind those he was competing for. He accepted that he wasn’t doing well and said he would fight for a place on the team. It was a very sincere conversation.
“I feel sad, because I feel like it’s a failure of mine. But it was a very high investment, and I didn’t get the best return from it. It was a frank conversation and he decided to go. I love him. He doesn’t give up, he wants to learn, he tries, he makes an effort.”
A common view in Brazil was that Alcaraz was not overly suited to Flamengo’s style. Under Luis, a former Brazil international who played for Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, they largely play a patient, possession game. Alcaraz, by contrast, thrives in transition and is best playing at a high tempo.
“He is a great player, but, within the game model adopted, we understand that he would have few opportunities to play his best football,” Jose Boto, Flamengo’s director of football said in a statement.
Alcaraz had similar issues under Russell Martin at Southampton. The Athletic reported that Martin wanted the midfielder to be safer in possession, and ended up moving him into a false nine role at times to compensate. From there, he could use his energy to press high and win back the ball.
His flexibility was one of the things that appealed to Everton. The below shows the variety of ways in which he was used by Southampton in the first half of last season in the Championship, before his loan move to Juventus in Italy.
After starting the campaign on the left of the midfield three, he had stints as a false nine and on the right before moving back to a deeper role before joining Flamengo.
Everton are expected to use him most as a No 8 or a No 10, but the likely scenario is that he provides an extra option in Abdoulaye Doucoure’s role behind the striker.
Despite numerous attempts to move away from the former Watford midfielder, including a stint for Dwight McNeil centrally and the purchase of Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille last summer — they keep coming back to Doucoure for his work rate. He consistently tops the charts for distance covered and averages around 12km in games.
Alcaraz offers the same traits and a combative edge. According to SkillCorner data, he was just short of 10km per game in that half season with Southampton before he went to Serie A. But he is a better carrier of the ball than Doucoure and more of a goal threat. Alcaraz scored eight goals in 48 appearances at St Mary’s.
Alcaraz curls home a BEAUTY! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/EJrOkLdQOI
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 29, 2023
The below graphic shows how active the Argentine is from an attacking perspective. He averaged 2.6 shots per game in that half season in the Championship, was not afraid to strike from distance, and was able to attack the box with runs from deep with regularity. He was in active passer in the zones just outside the area.
It is easy to forget that Alcaraz is just 22 and still making his way in the game. Despite his experiences in Argentina, Brazil, Italy and England, he is by no means the finished product. A move back to the Premier League gives him an opportunity to kick on and showcase his talent.
The purchase clause will only be triggered if he makes a high number of league starts between now and the end of the season, giving Everton a degree of control through selection over the outcome. It is a try-before-you-buy type scenario with minimal risk and plenty of potential upside.
In Alcaraz, they have a player who arrives with a point to prove, and someone who provides another decent option for a threadbare squad.
(Top photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
