Everton, across a relegation-threatened past three years, have forged a few heroes, and many villains.
After all, there have been some who downed tools and some who stepped up to the plate, willing to put themselves on the line when it mattered most. The latter is why Jordan Pickford, Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure are so revered by Evertonians, and why the club remains in the Premier League.
Characters like this are integral to achieving survival against all the odds, however, they alone cannot drag a team to safety.
Others must help out, and even the smallest contribution can still be remembered way in the future if it proves key in achieving a certain goal.
That is likely why Yerry Mina remains a well-liked figure around Goodison Park, despite having suffered during his spell with the club.
National media in Italy praise Yerry Mina
The Toffees saw fit to sever their ties with the Colombian last summer at the conclusion of his contract, allowing him to join Fiorentina on a free transfer.
And whilst he did not spend much time there at all, it was not long before he found a new home in Cagliari, where he has seemingly become a hero.
In fact, the national media in Italy seem enamoured with the 29-year-old, who has become something of a cult hero for another side battling the drop.
His enigmatic and affable personality was always bound to draw praise, but the manner in which La Nuova have reported, as relayed by Sport Witness, is good to see.
After all, he was a fine asset for Everton, just one who could not keep fit.
‘No Yerry Mina, no party,’ the report reads, suggesting that his new fanbase have already presented him with ‘idol status’ for his rise to prominence.
It goes on to state: ‘Mina was again at his best on Saturday in the clash with Lecce, with his presence proving to be ‘decisive’ on the pitch but also off it, where he instructed ball boys to waste time and even played the role of pantomime villain by wasting time and frustrating Lecce.
‘He was a ‘force of nature’ and has become a ‘gladiator’ for Claudi Ranieri’s side, giving them hope of avoiding relegation and ensuring life after Everton simply hasn’t been a slide into obscurity.’
Yerry Mina was so unlucky at Everton
Everyone at Everton knew the talent that the £32k-a-week titan possessed, and that made it all the more frustrating when injuries did not let him show it.
Across five years on Merseyside, the former Barcelona star endured approximately 482 days out injured, with those ailments spanning from hamstring strains to ankle complaints.
But, one particular stat from the end of the 2022/23 season emphasises how important he could have been had he stayed fit, with the report from The Athletic reading: ‘The statistics would certainly suggest as much: with Mina in the side last season, Everton won five, drew three and lost three, a win rate of 45 per cent. They averaged 1.6 points per game and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game when he was on the pitch.
‘Without him, that win rate dropped from 45 per cent to 22 per cent. Goals conceded per game rose to 1.9 and points per game was halved to 0.8.’
He could have been a pillar of a new, brighter era for Everton, but will instead be sadly remembered for what could have been. It is good to see him thriving elsewhere though.
Leave a Reply