Dominic Calvert-Lewin has lifted the lid on his reaction to Carlo Ancelotti leaving Everton last month, revealing the two have exchanged text messages since the Italian’s shock return to Real Madrid.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin said: “It came as a surprise but I wouldn’t say it’s been a distraction. It happened a few weeks ago now and it’s not been something that’s really been too much on my mind. I sent Carlo a message thanking him for everything he had done for me and he replied, and that’s kind of how football works. One minute one thing is one way, the next it’s not. It was a personal conversation so I probably won’t share that information (what Ancelotti replied), but he was just wishing me all the best really. Carlo was very good for me and I’m very grateful to have been able to play under him with the experience that he’s got. The biggest thing was Carlo came in and said to me was to just be more focused on being a centre-forward. I used to kind of run here, there and everywhere and do too much outside of the box, so he set us up in a way that suited me and I could get in better positions to score goals. I think it is an age and experience thing as well. I was 22 or 23 when he came in and I’m 24 now. I’m at that age, with the experience I’ve had, it’s been a time of coming together.”
Ancelotti was a surprise appointment to return to the Bernabeu and replace Zinedine Zidane, with the Blues only now closing in on a replacement in the form of Rafa Benitez. And the striker, who is currently away with England at Euro 2020, admitted it was a surprise to see the legendary manager quit Everton but thanked him for all he had done for the 24-year-old during his time at Goodison.
