The game behind Robin Olsen’s move to Everton

Of: Malin Wahlberg

Published: October 06, 2020 at 10:32 p.m.
Updated: October 06, 2020 at 10:47 p.m.

Robin Olsen was ready for Premier League leaders Everton during the final minutes of the transfer window.

He himself did not find out about the interest until hours before.

– I was a little nervous, says the doorman himself.

Robin Olsen wanted to stay in Rome. But during the final hours of Deadline Days, information suddenly came through that Everton had embarked on a search for the goalkeeper.

After the transfer window was closed, the Premier League leader confirmed that the goalkeeper is ready on loan.

– Yesterday many things happened, but it ended very well. I sat with Ponne (Pontus Jansson) and Emil (Forsberg). It was a relief when everything became clear, says Olsen, who was briefed on Everton’s interest yesterday.

– Yesterday was very, very intense, but I think Hasan has known it for a few days.

Photo: JOEL MARKLUND / BILDBYRÅN

Robin Olsen.

Darkened interest

Olsen’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, had a lot of control before that, but decided not to say anything to his player.

– I have darkened it a little and he has been a little stressed. He was determined to stay in Rome and take a seat there, so he didn’t believe it when I mentioned it. Many clubs have wanted Robin, but Roma have not even wanted to discuss a transfer, says Cetinkaya.

When did Everton enter the scene?

– At the end of the transfer window I can say. Roma wanted to stay with him, but we thought there could be better ways. Robin has said from day one that his big dream is the Premier League and yesterday it was clear. It cannot improve.

However, it didn’t take many minutes before the transfer window closed that the transition was completely complete.

– It’s a syndrome in England that they like this with Deadline Day, so it was a bit stressful with the roles, but we solved it in a good way. Everything was signed an hour before the window was closed, but they knew it. Yesterday I had four transfers and I was working with Tankovic to AEK Athens, Kristoffer Peterson to Fortuna Düsseldorf and Oussama Idrissi to Sevilla, so I did everything. But I have quite a bit of experience in days like this and in business, even if they got a little stressful.

“I grew up with it”

Pontus Jansson, who followed the drama with Olsen at Stockholm’s Scandic Park hotel where the national team is currently located, also testified about nervous minutes.

– The closer the closing got, the more stressed I was. But both Emil and I were more like this: “Take it easy, it will work out.” So (Carlo) Ancelotti called him with ten minutes, a quarter of an hour to go from the window, and then we all understood that he was ready, says Jansson.

Olsen himself was obviously happy with the club’s new direction when he met with the media on Tuesday.

– It was a goal for me to play in the Premier League. It’s something I grew up with. I really hope and think it suits me.

Published: October 06, 2020 at 10:32 p.m.

READ ON