Jack Harrison, whose understanding of Spanish has been key to helping Carlos Alcaraz settle at Everton, discussed the 22-year-old’s impact on the squad
Carlos Alcaraz is an “amazing player” who has shocked the Everton squad with the maturity he has displayed so far. That’s according to his Blues team-mate Jack Harrison.
Alcaraz is one of the youngest players in the first-team camp but has already travelled the world to find a place to settle. The Argentine had played in four leagues across two continents before returning to England with Everton in February.
He has been an instant hit with supporters, with his match-winning goal at Crystal Palace one of several highlights across his first six weeks as a Blue.
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And Harrison, who has acted as his translator, has now spoken about the impact Alcaraz has also had in the dressing room.
The winger, who has quickly become friends with the former Southampton, Juventus and Racing starlet, said: “Everyone likes him, he works hard, he’s got a lot of talent and that fits the characteristics that everybody likes.
“A lot of people, including the lads, forget he’s only 22. Just the other day we were doing a drill where the youngest went in the middle first and someone said, what, you’re only 22 [Youssef Chermiti, the only younger player in the squad, has just returned from injury]?
“So that makes it even more impressive. He’s got all the potential and it’s up to him how far he can go with it at club and international levels.”
Alcaraz provided fresh energy to an Everton squad that was struggling with injuries at the start of the year. After signing on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo he made his debut in the FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth, hitting the post after coming off the bench, before putting in impressive displays at Palace and Brentford.
The Blues have the option to buy the attacking midfielder for a fee of just over £12m should they trigger a performance clause in the deal – an option that could allow them to make early in-roads into a summer of squad rebuilding.
Alcaraz himself has said he would like the move to become permanent.
Harrison, who understands Spanish through his Costa Rican partner, is one of the reasons his new team-mate has been able to settle so quickly and the Leeds United loanee has been given fresh impetus on the pitch through the relationship.
Speaking to club media, Harrison, who is also hopeful of earning a future on Merseyside, said: “I’m just trying to help him out as much as I can because obviously it can be difficult with the language at first and I know he’s a great guy. He’s an amazing player, he’s got a lot of talent, you see that every day in training and he’s been able to come into a new environment and adapt pretty quickly and settle.
“IThat’s part of his personality, he’s able to make jokes around with some of the guys and he’s settled pretty quickly.”
