'I expected to join Juventus' - Super Eagles legend admits he didn't originally consider Everton

Super Eagles legend Joseph Yobo has confessed that Everton had been lagging behind Juventus in the race for his signature before his switch to the Toffees on an initial loan deal from Marseille in the summer of 2002, making him manager David Moyes' first signing.

Yobo was drawing interest from a plethora of clubs in Europe after putting himself in the shop window at the 2002 World Cup, where he went the distance in all the three matches played by the Super Eagles, including an impressive goalless draw against England.

The central defender made up his mind to join Everton after conversations with Moyes and a tour of the facilities at Goodison Park.

He went on to make 259 appearances for Everton across ten years and helped them qualify for the UEFA Champions League in 2005.

"The funny thing is, I had a lot of options after the 2002 World Cup with Nigeria and didn’t originally consider Everton. I expected to join Juventus," Yobo said to Everton's official website.

'My agent said we should meet with David Moyes. Even then, my first thought was maybe Everton could be a perfect stepping stone to a Champions League club.

"I grew up in Africa, remember, so didn’t have a full appreciation of the scale of the Club."

Yobo continued : "When I walked round Goodison with the gaffer, my feelings instantly started to change.

"I knew this was going to be good and, on the spot, made the decision I was going to stay.

"It was like meeting your wife and realising this is the person you want to spend your life with.It was love at first sight."

Nigeria's joint most capped player, Yobo started and completed every Premier League match played by Everton during the 2006-2007 season, logging 3,420 minutes.

Igho Kingsley